The Shift in News Sources
Social media and video networks have become the primary source of news in the USA, surpassing traditional television channels and news websites. According to a study by the Reuters Institute, more than half (54%) of people receive news from networks such as Facebook, X, and YouTube, overtaking television (50%) and news sites and apps (48%).
The Rise of Social Media and Personal News
The rise of social media and personal news is not unique to the United States, but the changes seem to be happening faster and with more significant effects in the country. A report by the Reuters Institute notes that this shift is "another important challenge for traditional publishers." The author of the report, Nic Newman, highlights the importance of social video and personality-driven news.
Influencers and Personalities
The podcaster Joe Rogan is the most widespread personality, with almost a quarter (22%) of the population stating that they came across news or comments from him last week. However, despite their popularity, online influencers and personalities are also seen as a primary source of false or misleading information by almost half of the global population (47%), on par with politicians.
Politicians and Online Hosts
The institute also highlights a trend for some politicians to give interviews with sympathetic online hosts rather than mainstream interviewers. Populist politicians around the world are "increasingly able to bypass traditional journalism in favor of friendly partisan media," personalities, and "influencers," which often have special access but rarely ask difficult questions and are involved in spreading misinformation.
The Use of X for News
The use of X for news is "stable or increasing in many markets," with the greatest increase in the USA. Since Elon Musk took over the network in 2022, "many other right-wing individuals, especially young men, have flooded the network, while some progressive target groups have left or use it less frequently." In the United States, the proportion of people identifying as right-wing on X has tripled since Musk’s takeover, while in the UK, the right-wing X audience has almost doubled.
Other Social Media Networks
Competition networks such as Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon "have little influence worldwide, with a reach of 2% or less for news." However, TikTok is the fastest-growing social and video network, used by 17% of people around the world for news, a four percentage point increase since last year.
Further Key Findings
Other important findings on news sources include:
- The use of AI chatbots to get news is increasing and is twice as popular with people under 25 as with the entire population.
- Most people believe that AI messages will make news less transparent, precise, and trustworthy.
- All generations still value trustworthy brands with a track record for accuracy, even if they do not use them as often as before.
The Report
The report, now in its 14th year, interviewed almost 100,000 people in 48 countries, providing valuable insights into the changing landscape of news sources and consumption habits.
