Social media overtakes TV as main news source in US: Report
The 2025 Digital News Report, published by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, shows that 54% of Americans use platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X to follow the news. That figure is higher than the 50% who watch news on television and the 48% who use news websites and apps.
The findings were reported by the BBC, which quoted the study's author, Nic Newman, as saying, 'The rise of social media and personality-based news is not unique to the United States, but changes seem to be happening faster and with more impact than in other countries.'
The report also found that online personalities and influencers are becoming key sources of news for many people.
Podcaster Joe Rogan was the most visible media figure in the US during the study period. The BBC said nearly one in four people (22%) had seen news or political commentary from him in the week of the survey.
According to the report, some politicians are now choosing to appear on podcasts and shows hosted by influencers who are friendly to their views, rather than giving interviews to mainstream journalists.
The Reuters Institute noted that, 'Populist politicians around the world are increasingly able to bypass traditional journalism in favour of friendly partisan media, 'personalities', and 'influencers' who often get special access but rarely ask difficult questions.'
The report also raised concerns about false or misleading information. Globally, 47% of those surveyed said influencers and online personalities are among the main sources of misinformation. The same percentage said politicians were also responsible for spreading misleading claims.
The report said the use of X for news is steady or growing in many countries, especially in the United States.
Since Elon Musk took over the platform in 2022, more politically right-leaning users especially young men have joined the network. At the same time, some left-leaning or progressive users have reduced their activity.
The BBC quoted the report as saying, 'Many more right-leaning people, notably young men, have flocked to the network, while some progressive audiences have left or are using it less frequently.'
In the US, the share of users who identify as being on the political right has tripled since Musk's takeover. In the UK, the right-leaning user base on X has almost doubled, the study found.
Alternative platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon have made little impact. The report said these platforms have 2% or less global reach when it comes to news use.
Other key trends from the report include, TikTok is the fastest-growing platform for news. It is now used by 17% of people globally, up by four percentage points since last year.
Use of AI chatbots for news is increasing. Among people under 25, the use of chatbots is twice as common as in the general population.
However, most people are worried about how AI might affect journalism. Many believe it could make news less accurate, transparent, and trustworthy. Despite these changes, the report found that people of all ages still value trusted news brands, especially those with a long record of accuracy even if they do not use them as often as before.
The Reuters Institute's Digital News Report is now in its 14th year. This year's survey included responses from nearly 100,000 people in 48 countries, making it one of the largest studies of its kind.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
16 minutes ago
- First Post
Iran warns of imminent war with Israel amid fragile lull in hostilities
Iran's first vice president has warned that war with Israel could erupt at any moment, stressing there is no formal ceasefire in place after June's 12-day conflict A senior Iranian official warned Monday that war with Israel could erupt at any moment, describing the current lull after June's 12-day conflict as only a temporary halt. 'We must be prepared at every moment for confrontation; right now, we are not even in a ceasefire (agreement); we are in a cessation of hostilities,' said First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref. The fighting in June saw Israel bombard Iranian nuclear and military sites, as well as residential areas, killing more than 1,000 people, including senior commanders and nuclear scientists. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes that killed dozens in Israel. The United States announced a halt in fighting on June 24, two days after it joined the war by bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. But there was no agreement formalising the ceasefire, only an undeclared pause in hostilities. On Sunday, Yahya Rahim Safavi, a military adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told Iranian media the country was 'preparing plans for the worst-case scenario'. 'We are not in a ceasefire now, we are in a war phase, it could break down at any time, there is no protocol, no regulations, no agreement between us and the Israelis, between us and the Americans,' he said in remarks carried by the Shargh daily. 'A ceasefire means ceasing attacks; that could change at any time,' he added. Since then, Iranian officials have insisted the country is not seeking war but is ready for another confrontation. Western powers accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons through its atomic programme, a charge Tehran strongly denies. Following the war, Israel and the United States repeatedly threatened to attack Iran again should Tehran relaunch its nuclear sites and resume its nuclear enrichment programme. The United Nations nuclear watchdog has warned that Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country that enriches uranium to 60 percent -– far beyond the 3.67 percent cap set by a landmark international accord reached in 2015. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The level is a short step from the 90-percent enrichment required for a nuclear weapon. Last week, Britain, France and Germany, all signatories to the 2015 deal, threatened to reimpose sanctions lifted under the agreement. Iran has warned of serious consequence with some officials in the country hinting at withdrawal of Tehran from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Indian Express
43 minutes ago
- Indian Express
From Paris to Alaska: Why Putin's poop always travels back with him
Russian President Vladimir Putin's bodyguards collect his poop when he travels abroad and carry it back to Russia. This unusual practice is done to stop foreign governments from studying his waste to learn about his health. This time, Putin reportedly travelled with his 'poop suitcases' to the Alaska Summit in the United States. Reports said that his bodyguards gather his stool and take it back to Russia whenever he travels overseas. The practice was noted during Putin's trip to France in 2017 and his visit to Saudi Arabia in 2019. The Independent report says the aim is to prevent foreign intelligence agencies from getting samples of Putin's poop that could reveal medical details. Ex-BBC journalist Farida Rustamova also confirmed hearing of such incidents, saying Putin sometimes used 'a private bathroom' or even a portable toilet while travelling abroad. She cited an unnamed source a saying the president had carried out the practice since the beginning of his leadership. Putin's health has been a subject of speculation, especially since Russia launched the Ukraine war in 2022. Some unconfirmed reports suggest he may be suffering from cancer or Parkinson's disease, though the Kremlin has denied such claims. The idea of using human waste for intelligence is not new. Joseph Stalin is reported to have ordered secret tests on the poop of Chinese leader Mao Zedong in 1949 to build a psychological profile. During the Cold War, British agents were also said to have studied Soviet soldiers' used toilet paper for information.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Dharmasthala case: Home Minister warns of action against those posting provocative and defamatory content on social media
Taking note of the alleged provocative and defamatory posts on social media on the ongoing investigation in Dharmasthala, Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Monday warned of stringent action if the trend continues. 'If you do not regulate yourself, the government will have to regulate you,' the Home Minister warned those using social media to post their views on the Dharmasthala row. Replying to a debate in the Legislative Assembly on the 'alleged efforts to defame Dharmasthala pilgrimage centre by an anonymous person on the charges of mass burials', the Home Minister told social media users: 'Please stop it. If you continue, the government will have to take action against you.' His warning came in response to a demand by the Opposition to act against those posting content on social media, particularly those putting out 'objectionable' content on YouTube. He noted that already the government had decided to bring in a legislation to act against those spreading fake news. 'Our intention was to bring it in the ongoing legislature session. But now we may bring it in the next session,' he said. Earlier, the Opposition members, including Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok, expressed concern over 'objectionable' content on social media at a time when the Special Investigation Team was probing the allegations. BJP member S. Suresh Kumar called it a 'social media trial.' Another BJP member V. Sunil Kumar accused social media users of being 'part of the conspiracy' to mislead the probe and defame the pilgrimage centre.
