Social Media Becomes the Leading Source of News and Misinformation

The U.S. is catching up with Latin America, Africa, and Asia, where social media has already surpassed traditional media, while the gap with Europe — where social media is less dominant — continues to grow.

For the first time, social media — especially video content — has become the primary source of news in the U.S., surpassing both TV and news websites. According to Reuters Institute, 54% of Americans get news from Facebook, X (Twitter), or YouTube, compared to 50% from TV and 48% from websites or apps.

News delivered by influencers and content creators presents a growing challenge for traditional journalism. Politicians now prefer engaging with friendly bloggers over giving interviews to reporters — a shift that fosters misinformation.

TikTok is the fastest-growing platform for news consumption, while AI-driven chatbots are increasingly popular among users under 25. Yet, most people believe AI reduces transparency and trustworthiness in news.