Social networks become the main source of news

In the U.S., social media — particularly video platforms — have become the primary news source, overtaking both television and news websites, according to Reuters Institute. Over 54% of Americans now get their news from Facebook, X, and YouTube, slightly more than TV (50%) and websites/apps (48%).

The trend toward influencer-driven and personalized news content is accelerating fastest in the U.S., even though it’s a global phenomenon. Nearly 22% of Americans engaged with content from podcaster Joe Rogan in the past week alone.

This development aligns the U.S. with Latin America, Asia, and Africa, where social media dominates, while the gap with Europe — where traditional media is still more trusted — continues to grow.

Researcher Nic Newman warns that politicians increasingly prefer friendly interviews with influencers over traditional journalism, which challenges the authority of mainstream media. This raises concerns, as 47% of global respondents identify influencers as a key source of misinformation, alongside politicians.

After Elon Musk acquired X in 2022, the platform saw a surge in right-wing users — tripling in the U.S. and doubling in the UK. In contrast, new platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon remain marginal with under 2% reach.

Additional findings:

• TikTok is the fastest-growing news platform globally (used by 17%, up 4% year-over-year);

• AI chatbots are especially popular for news among users under 25;

• Despite lower usage, traditional news outlets are still considered more accurate and trustworthy.

The 14th annual Reuters survey included 100,000 respondents across 48 countries.