ALMOST HALF OF AMERICANS GET THEIR NEWS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

Matt Case - November 17th - 5:18am PST 

A recent study reveals a dramatic shift in the news consumption habits of Americans, with nearly half now turning to social media platforms for their daily news, a figure that has doubled since 2020. TikTok, the video-sharing app, has emerged as a significant news source for over 40% of Americans, although Facebook remains the most popular platform for news consumption.

The study highlights distinct gender preferences in platform choice. Women are more inclined to use Meta platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, for their news updates. In contrast, men show a preference for platforms like Reddit, [another platform], and YouTube.

Digital news has become an important part of Americans’ news media diets, with social media playing a crucial role in news consumption

These findings underscore a transformative trend in the landscape of news dissemination, signaling a shift away from traditional media outlets towards more accessible and user-driven social media platforms. As the reliance on social media for news grows, concerns about misinformation and the quality of news consumed also arise, posing challenges for both consumers and regulators.

This trend towards social media news consumption is reflective of the broader digital transformation in society, where platforms are increasingly becoming the primary source of news, entertainment, and social interaction for many.