Younger Americans are leaving traditional news paths behind. Over half now turn first to social or video platforms, not TV or standard websites, when seeking updates on current events. Among U.S. adults under 35, that pivot has become the new norm.
Facebook’s position in news delivery has quietly eroded. According to ReutersInstitute data, from a 42% peak in 2016, its weekly news use has slid to 26% in 2025, a 16-point fall. Meanwhile, YouTube retains consistent reach, though rising competitors have carved out space. Instagram’s use for news climbed from 2% in 2014 to 16% this year. TikTok, which barely registered at 1% in 2020, now accounts for 10% of weekly news access.
The broader shift shows a platform ecosystem breaking apart. In 2014, only Facebook and YouTube passed the 10% weekly news threshold. Today, six different networks do. Even X (formerly Twitter) has held steady at 11% for years, while WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Messenger hover around the 5–16% range. The audience is no longer monolithic, it fragments by format and flow.
Video-first algorithms, especially on TikTok and Instagram, continue to reshape how news gets packaged and absorbed. Casual swipes now replace headlines. Emojis, edits, and faces beat plain text.
Lesser-known platforms, Reddit, Threads, Telegram, Bluesky, each claim 1% to 4% reach. While small, these figures matter when aggregated across communities chasing niche topics, breaking developments, or alternative voices. As tech firms shuffle priorities, from pushing creators to pulling back from journalism, publishers must chase visibility across a map that redraws itself yearly.
Note: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
Read next: The Business of You: How Digital Platforms Turn Your Life into Ad Revenue
Facebook’s position in news delivery has quietly eroded. According to ReutersInstitute data, from a 42% peak in 2016, its weekly news use has slid to 26% in 2025, a 16-point fall. Meanwhile, YouTube retains consistent reach, though rising competitors have carved out space. Instagram’s use for news climbed from 2% in 2014 to 16% this year. TikTok, which barely registered at 1% in 2020, now accounts for 10% of weekly news access.
The broader shift shows a platform ecosystem breaking apart. In 2014, only Facebook and YouTube passed the 10% weekly news threshold. Today, six different networks do. Even X (formerly Twitter) has held steady at 11% for years, while WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Messenger hover around the 5–16% range. The audience is no longer monolithic, it fragments by format and flow.
Video-first algorithms, especially on TikTok and Instagram, continue to reshape how news gets packaged and absorbed. Casual swipes now replace headlines. Emojis, edits, and faces beat plain text.
Lesser-known platforms, Reddit, Threads, Telegram, Bluesky, each claim 1% to 4% reach. While small, these figures matter when aggregated across communities chasing niche topics, breaking developments, or alternative voices. As tech firms shuffle priorities, from pushing creators to pulling back from journalism, publishers must chase visibility across a map that redraws itself yearly.
| Year | X (formerly Twitter) | FB Messenger | Snapchat | YouTube | TikTok | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 36 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 16 | |||
| 2015 | 41 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 18 | ||
| 2016 | 42 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 18 | ||
| 2017 | 39 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 18 | |
| 2018 | 36 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 19 | |
| 2019 | 36 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 16 | 20 | |
| 2020 | 36 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 16 | 21 | 1 |
| 2021 | 32 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 17 | 20 | 3 |
| 2022 | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 15 | 19 | 4 |
| 2023 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 20 | 6 |
| 2024 | 26 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 16 | 22 | 8 |
| 2025 | 26 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 3 | 15 | 21 | 10 |
Note: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
Read next: The Business of You: How Digital Platforms Turn Your Life into Ad Revenue
