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%), according to the Reuters Institute. "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". The institute also highlighted a trend for some politicians to give their time to sympathetic online hosts rather than mainstream interviewers. It said populist politicians around the world are "increasingly able to bypass traditional journalism in favour of friendly partisan media, 'personalities', and 'influencers' who often get special access but rarely ask difficult questions, with many implicated in spreading false narratives or worse". Despite their popularity, online influencers and personalities were named as a major source of false or misleading information by almost half of people worldwide (47%) - putting them level with politicians. The report also stated that usage of X for news is "stable or increasing across many markets", with the biggest uplift in the US. It added that since Elon Musk took over the network in 2022, "many more right-leaning people, notably young men, have flocked to the network, while some progressive audiences have left or are using it less frequently". In the US, the proportion that self-identified as being on the right tripled after Musk's takeover. In the UK, right-wing X audiences have almost doubled. Rival networks like Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon are "making little impact globally, with reach of 2% or less for news", it stated. Other key findings about news sources: The report is in its 14th year and surveyed almost 100,000 people in 48 countries.
Social media now main source of news in US, research suggests
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Research Finds Social Media Surpassing Traditional Outlets as Primary News Source in the US"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Recent research indicates that social media platforms and video networks have become the primary sources of news for individuals in the United States, surpassing traditional television and news websites. According to the Reuters Institute, 54% of respondents reported obtaining news from platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. This figure eclipses the 50% who still rely on television for news and the 48% who turn to news websites and apps. The report highlights a global trend where social media and personality-driven news are gaining traction, but notes that such changes are occurring more rapidly and with greater implications in the U.S. than in other regions. Notably, podcaster Joe Rogan emerged as a significant figure in this landscape, with 22% of the population indicating they encountered news or commentary from him within the past week. The author of the report, Nic Newman, emphasizes that the rise of social video and personality-centered news presents a formidable challenge for traditional journalism and publishers.
The research also sheds light on how political figures are increasingly opting to engage with sympathetic online hosts instead of mainstream media outlets. This shift allows populist politicians to circumvent traditional journalism, favoring friendly media personalities and influencers who often provide them with special access yet rarely pose challenging questions. Alarmingly, nearly half of the global respondents (47%) identified online influencers and personalities as significant sources of false or misleading information, placing them on par with politicians in this regard. The report further notes that the usage of X for news is either stable or on the rise, particularly in the U.S., where there has been a notable influx of right-leaning individuals, especially younger men, since Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform in 2022. In contrast, some progressive users have reportedly reduced their engagement with X. While alternative platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon are emerging, they have not made a substantial impact on the news landscape, with their reach remaining at 2% or less globally. This report, now in its 14th year, is based on a survey of nearly 100,000 individuals across 48 countries.
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