By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda Updated at 1132 EAT on Tuesday 17 June 2025

Social Media Takes the Lead in US News Consumption

New research reveals a significant shift in how Americans consume news. According to the Reuters Institute, over half (54%) of people now get their news from social media platforms like Facebook, X, and YouTube.

This marks a notable overtaking of traditional TV channels (50%) and news websites/apps (48%) as the primary source of news.

The rise of social media and personality-based news is transforming the way people consume news globally. According to a report by the Reuters Institute, more than half of Americans (54%) now get their news from social media platforms like Facebook, X, and YouTube, surpassing traditional TV channels (50%) and news websites/apps (48%).

Impact on News Consumption:

The report highlights the growing influence of social media personalities and online influencers in shaping public discourse. However, it also notes that these personalities are often named as sources of false or misleading information by almost half of people worldwide (47%), putting them on par with politicians.

Global Implications:

While the trend is not unique to the United States, the report suggests that changes are happening faster and with more impact in the US compared to other countries. The rise of social media and personality-based news is redefining the way people consume news and interact with information online.

The Reuters Institute’s findings highlight the growing challenge for traditional publishers and the potential risks associated with the rise of social video and personality-driven news.

The trend of politicians opting for sympathetic online hosts over mainstream interviewers raises concerns about accountability and the spread of misinformation.

X, formerly known as Twitter, is seeing stable or increasing usage for news across various markets, with a significant surge in the US. Here are some key points about X’s usage and demographics.

User x has around 600 mollion monthly active users worlwide, with the US accountability for 20% of its user base, approximately 106.23 million users.

News Consumption, about 54% of US adults use social media for news, with 12% of adults regularly getting news on X. In contrust, Facebook and YouTube lead as news sources, with 33% of adults regularly getting news on each platform.

Demographics: X’s user base is predominantly male, with a male-to-female ratio of roughly 2:1. The majority of users, around 58%, are under 35 years old

Engagement: Users spend an average of minutes and 6 seconds on x daily active users for news is stable or increasing, particularly in the US, where the platform has has seen significant growth.

This trend is notable, especially among younger adults and right-leaning users, who have increased in numbers since Elon  Musk’s takeover in 2022

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