Social Media Now Main Source of News In US, Research Suggests (bbc.com)
- Reference: 0178070707
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/06/17/0057254/social-media-now-main-source-of-news-in-us-research-suggests
- Source link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93lzyxkklpo
> Social media and video networks have [1]become the main source of news in the US , overtaking traditional TV channels and news websites, research suggests. More than half (54%) of people get news from networks like Facebook, X and YouTube -- overtaking TV (50%) and news sites and apps (48%), according to the [2]Reuters Institute . "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," a report found. Podcaster Joe Rogan was the most widely-seen personality, with almost a quarter (22%) of the population saying they had come across news or commentary from him in the previous week. The report's author Nic Newman said the rise of social video and personality-driven news "represents another significant challenge for traditional publishers."
Other key findings from the report include:
- TikTok is the fastest-growing social and video platform, now used for news by 17% globally (up 4% from last year).
- AI chatbot use for news is increasing, especially among under-25s, where it's twice as popular as in the general population.
- Most people believe AI will reduce transparency, accuracy, and trust in news.
- Across all age groups, trusted news brands with proven accuracy remain valued, even if used less frequently.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93lzyxkklpo
[2] https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2025
shocker (Score:3)
On most news sites these days it's difficult to claw your way through all the ads to get to the paywall, and on the off chance you make it through that it's literally just the same blurb that every other site has. And the real articles are sandwiched between a stack of "paid content" which are essentially just more ads disguised as articles that if clicked take you to an even more ad infested site. There's a few exceptions of course, but they are increasingly hard to find and the average person doesn't want news they want someone "important" to deliver a daily dose of reinforcement to their belief systems.
What a great news source (Score:2)
The loudest loudmouth is the source of truth. That's what this means. This is how you get this sequence:
Time for an election.
Candidate A: hardworking successful and respected prosecutor, Senator, and Vice President. Exemplary record of promoting health care, voting rights, and reducing gun violence and crime. Full understanding and adherence to the rule of law. Well educated. Articulate as a court officer should be.
Candidate B: Convicted felon of over 30 counts, with indictments for around 50
Oh dear (Score:2)
When everybody's perception of reality is different, nobody can agree on any hard fact and society unravels.