TikTok's ominous turn after Oct 7 has led to concerns that Gen Z is becoming 'Gen Terrorism,' warns influencer.

An Ivy League-educated social media influencer has warned that TikTok has taken a "ominous turn" in the wake of the war in Israel, and has even re-labeled Gen Z as "Generation Terrorism."

On "America's Newsroom" Tuesday, comedian and TikTok star Zach Sage Fox stated that since October 7th, the algorithm has taken a more ominous turn, and Gen Z is becoming Gen Terrorism. He said this not as a joke but as a reality.

Since Hamas' attack, there has been a significant increase in anti-Israel sentiment among younger Americans on college campuses across the U.S., including Columbia and Yale, as demonstrated by the wave of protests and the spread of hate speech and antisemitism on social media.

Social media apps, including TikTok, have become significant platforms for disseminating news and information, prompting worries about misinformation, hate speech, and censorship.

TikTok is not the only social media platform with a misinformation problem, as 90% of the misinformation young people are hearing comes from TikTok, according to Fox.

A Pew Research Center study from Nov. 2023 found that 44% of Americans aged 18-29 get their news through TikTok, while 42% of high school-aged individuals and younger also use TikTok as an information source. Additionally, 60% of Democrats or those leaning left rely on TikTok for news.

Fox recognized the potential benefits of TikTok but understood that "we were striking a deal with the devil."

"When I started getting terrified was when I saw Gen Z supporting Osama bin Laden. This has gone in a crazy direction. There's Holocaust denialism rampant throughout the app. This is where you're seeing the most misinformation."

In recent months, Fox has shifted his focus to combating antisemitism and anti-Israel propaganda.

A man in a wheelchair whose family was "massacred" at Auschwitz during the Holocaust approached Fox while he was visiting the concentration camp a few years ago.

The emotional encounter was recorded on video, and Fox pledged to support the man through his journey.

"We hugged and cried, and I assured him that nothing like that would ever happen again. But when I made that promise, I meant it. I truly meant it. However, it was difficult to imagine that it would actually happen in this way," Fox stated. "What we're witnessing on college campuses, particularly now, is alarming. I never comprehended how the Holocaust could occur. I knew it happened and understood the reasons behind it, but it felt like a distant, dystopian past. It didn't feel like a present reality."

Fox stated that it's not a coincidence that Gen Z, who are often referred to as "zombies," are simply repeating what they see online. While free speech is crucial, Fox believes it's not fair to young people who are easily influenced. As a comedian, he feels bad for college students who have been brainwashed by something beyond their control, which is currently outside the government's reach.

While Fox is conflicted about the potential legislation targeting TikTok, he believes that the social media platform needs to be sold to an American company to facilitate better regulation.