Pew Details Social Media News Consumption Habits
A new Pew Research Center survey details how Americans consume news on social media. Most X users actively use the platform for news, while on TikTok, news exposure is largely incidental and algorithmic for its younger audience. The study notes that users rarely rely on a single platform, instead blending formats and channels, with trust in news from platforms like Instagram remaining lower than for traditional publishers.
The share of Americans who get news from social media is growing, with 54% now getting news there at least sometimes, up from 48% in 2021. Facebook (33%) and YouTube (32%) lead as regular news sources for U.S. adults, followed by Instagram (20%), TikTok (17%), and X (12%). TikTok has seen the fastest growth as a news source, with 52% of its users now regularly getting news on the platform, a significant jump from 22% in 2020. For Gen Z, social media is a primary news source, with 42.9% getting their news daily from these platforms. TikTok is the most popular news source within this demographic, used by 21% of Gen Z for news. Despite its prevalence, trust in news from social media remains low. Fewer than a quarter of adults (23%) say they trust the news they find on social platforms, compared to 51% who trust the news media they use most often. This skepticism is particularly high in countries with polarized political situations and high social media use, like the United States. The challenge of information overload is a significant factor in modern news consumption, with research linking it to anxiety and psychological stress. This has spurred the development of AI-powered news apps that offer personalized feeds and summaries to help users manage the deluge of information. News organizations are also experimenting with AI to provide tailored content and formats, such as audio voiceovers of articles and interactive chatbots, to better engage audiences, especially younger demographics. Newsletter-first media companies like Morning Brew and The Hustle have demonstrated successful models for building habits around news consumption. Their success, leading to acquisitions by Insider ($75 million) and HubSpot ($27 million) respectively, was built on a blueprint of a clear target audience, native advertising, and scaling through paid ads and word-of-mouth. These platforms capitalized on a generational shift in how people consume information, moving away from traditional outlets.
