Most Americans continue to say media scrutiny keeps politicians from doing things they shouldn’t
Americans continue to say criticism from news organizations keeps political leaders from doing things they shouldn’t.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Americans continue to say criticism from news organizations keeps political leaders from doing things they shouldn’t.
This study explores the makeup of the social media news influencer universe, including who they are, what content they create and who their audiences are.
Among those who listed a main source of political news, six-in-ten say that their source is part of the “mainstream media.”
Today, 37% of all U.S. adults say they have a lot of or some trust in the information that comes from social media sites.
About three-quarters of U.S. adults say they’ve seen inaccurate election news at least somewhat often, and many say it’s hard to tell what’s true.
About three-quarters of Americans (73%) say they often or sometimes get local news from friends, family and neighbors.
The share of adults who say they regularly get news from TikTok has grown about fivefold since 2020, from 3% to 17% in 2024.
Social media plays a crucial role in Americans’ news consumption, with about one-third of adults saying they regularly get news on Facebook and YouTube.
How Americans get news has greatly changed in the 21st century. Most now use digital devices for news at least sometimes. Read about the platforms they turn to.
Roughly three-quarters of adults (77%) say they often or sometimes get local news and information about crime.