Report: One in Five Americans Get News From Social Media Influencers

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Nov 18, 2024

Above: In this photo illustration the logo of US online social media and social networking site 'X' (formerly known as Twitter) is displayed centrally on a smartphone screen alongside that of Threads (L) and Instagram (R) on August 01, 2023 in Bath, England. Image copyright: Matt Cardy/Getty Images News via Getty Imagesstory last updated Nov 19

The Facts

A new report by Pew Research Center released on Monday shows that, of nearly 10.7K US adults surveyed, 21% claimed to "regularly" receive news from social media influencers, including 37% of those under 30 and 26% of those 30-49.
It found that 65% of those who regularly consume news from influencers claimed they "helped them better understand current events and civic issues," while 31% felt a personal connection with an influencer.

The Spin

Narrative A

As witnessed unapologetically by both the Trump and Harris campaigns this year, legacy media's importance is dwindling in the face of new digital alternatives. From Joe Rogan to Call Her Daddy, social media influencers and their podcasts are now dominating public discourse with viewership numbers that traditional outlets would die for in the modern landscape. For better or worse, news media is undergoing a generational transition that we must all try to keep up with.

Narrative B

There is hope that, despite mainstream media's recent decline, legacy news can restore the trust once placed in it and return common sense to the post-truth era currently encouraged by alternative social media. Transparency, accountability, and objectivity must be championed once again if society is to see a rejection of the polarization and fake news that now ravages our information landscape. The mainstream media must reform itself and win back public faith.