Social Media Now Main Source of News In US, Research Suggests

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the BBC: 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." Other key findings from the report include: - TikTok is the fastest-growing social and video platform, now used for news by 17% globally (up 4% from last year). - AI chatbot use for news is increasing, especially among under-25s, where it's twice as popular as in the general population. - Most people believe AI will reduce transparency, accuracy, and trust in news. - Across all age groups, trusted news brands with proven accuracy remain valued, even if used less frequently. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Jun 17, 2025 - 11:40

Social Media Now Main Source of News In US, Research Suggests

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the BBC: 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." Other key findings from the report include: - TikTok is the fastest-growing social and video platform, now used for news by 17% globally (up 4% from last year). - AI chatbot use for news is increasing, especially among under-25s, where it's twice as popular as in the general population. - Most people believe AI will reduce transparency, accuracy, and trust in news. - Across all age groups, trusted news brands with proven accuracy remain valued, even if used less frequently.