Social Media Now Main Source of News In US, Research Suggests

Social media and video networks have become the main source of news in the US, overtaking traditional TV channels and news websites, research suggests. More than half (54%) of people get news from networks like Facebook, X and YouTube — overtaking TV (50%) and news sites and apps (48%). “The rise of social media and personality-based news is not unique to the United States, but changes seem to be happening faster — and with more impact — than in other countries,” a report found. Podcaster Joe Rogan was the most widely-seen personality, with almost a quarter (22%) of the population saying they had come across news or commentary from him in the previous week. The report’s author Nic Newman said the rise of social video and personality-driven news “represents another significant challenge for traditional publishers.” Other key findings from the report include:

– TikTok is the fastest-growing social and video platform, now used for news by 17% globally (up 4% from last year).
– AI chatbot use for news is increasing, especially among under-25s, where it’s twice as popular as in the general population.
– Most people believe AI will reduce transparency, accuracy, and trust in news.
– Across all age groups, trusted news brands with proven accuracy remain valued, even if used less frequently.