The Hannah & Lucy Show | Why Pupils Trust Tiktok 'Teachers'!

Hannah Wilson and Lucy Neuberger tackle a phenomenon increasingly felt across schools which is why are pupils placing more trust in TikTok “edu-influencers” than in the qualified teachers standing in front of them. With their trademark sharp humour and wit the conversation covers all aspects of this creeping phenomenon. 1. The TikTok Teacher EffectHannah gives examples of pupils quoting TikTok creators as if they were definitive sources of truth. From revision hacks to relationship advice to conspiracy-tinged “study psychology” it’s the wild west out there. Lucy describes how pupils often treat online voices as more authentic than their teachers, partly because online creators appear relatable, unfiltered and “real”, while teachers are often constrained by policy, curriculum and professional expectations.They examine how micro-videos, fast-paced edits and algorithm-driven content tap into adolescent attention patterns in a way traditional teaching simply cannot compete with. TikTok’s tone, informal, humorous, confident, creates the illusion of expertise, even when content is shallow or even when it’s misleading. “Kids trust charisma over credentials,” Hannah notes. 2. Expertise vs. InfluenceThe conversation turns to the difference between being knowledgeable and appearing knowledgeable. Lucy argues that pupils now often value emotional resonance over accuracy. The hosts recall situations where pupils challenge curriculum content by citing a TikTok creator with no formal training.Hannah raises concerns about the erosion of academic discipline: if pupils believe a 30-second clip is equal to years of professional qualification, schools face a credibility crisis. They reflect on the risk of unregulated advice, especially around mental health, gender identity, neurodiversity and “diagnosis TikTok”, where students self-label based on viral content. The episode highlights the emerging pastoral challenge that teachers must now unpick digital myths before real learning can begin. 3. Why Pupils Turn to Online VoicesOf course rather than criticising pupils, our hosts examine why young people gravitate to online educators:• Relatability: Influencers speak in teen-friendly language.• Accessibility: Advice is packaged in seconds, not lessons.• Identity: TikTok communities offer belonging for anxious or isolated young people.• Consistency: The algorithm feels more predictable than school and of course surreptitiously offers children what ‘they set it up’ to hear back.• Safety: Pupils feel less judged by a screen than by adults.Lucy adds that many teens simply do not trust institutions. In a post-pandemic generation, school feels rigid and performative. TikTok feels personal, adaptive and emotionally validating. 4. The Pressure on TeachersHannah & Lucy discuss the emotional weight placed on teachers who are now expected to compete not only with each other but with charismatic online personalities broadcasting from their bedrooms. Teachers cannot, and should not, attempt to out-perform influencers on entertainment value. 5. Teaching in a TikTok WorldHannah & Lucy reflect on how educators can respond.• Teach pupils digital discernment, not digital fear.• Make room for conversations about online content instead of ignoring it.• Show that expertise is not arrogance, it is responsibility.• Rebuild school cultures where trust grows from consistency, not performance.Hannah and Lucy conclude that schools must evolve, but not by mimicking influencer culture. The task is to help young people distinguish guidance from gimmick, support from spectacle, and wisdom from noise.Follow us, we're worth it:🔗 Website🔗 Spotify🔗 Instagram🔗 Bluesky🔗 X (Twitter)#leadership #education #teacher #school #schoollife #inspiration #support #podcast #video