What Is News?
As people are exposed to more information from more sources than ever before, how they define and feel about “news” has become less clear-cut.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Social Media & the News
All
Social Media & the News
Publications
-
-
Republicans have become more likely since 2024 to trust information from news outlets, social media
53% of Republicans have at least some trust in information from national news outlets in 2025, up from 40% in 2024.
-
No consensus on who comes to mind when Americans are asked to name a news influencer
In an open-ended question, we asked U.S. adults who say they regularly get news from news influencers to name the first one who comes to mind for them.
-
How news influencers talked about Trump and Harris during the 2024 election
Most news influencers published posts about both candidates in summer and fall, and identical shares were more critical than supportive of each.
-
A closer look at Americans’ experiences with news on TikTok
Many TikTok accounts mix in news with a variety of other topics, from celebrity gossip to jokes and memes.
-
America’s News Influencers
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.
-
Who U.S. Adults Follow on TikTok
American TikTok users follow far more pop culture and entertainment accounts than news and politics ones.
-
More Americans – especially young adults – are regularly getting news on TikTok
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 and News Fact Sheet
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.
-
About half of TikTok users under 30 say they use it to keep up with politics, news
TikTok users under 30 see its impact on democracy more positively than older users, with 45% of this group saying it’s mostly good for American democracy.
