A new survey from Pew Research Center shows how strongly social media has become part of the news cycle in the United States. Facebook still draws the largest share of people who say they use these platforms for updates, but TikTok has grown at a speed that sets it apart from other networks.
Facebook Leads but Faces Competition
About 38 percent of U.S. adults report that they regularly get news from Facebook. YouTube follows with 36 percent. TikTok and Instagram are tied at 20 percent, marking a steep climb for both. More than half of adults say they get at least some news from social platforms, a level that has held steady for several years.
Facebook’s broad reach explains its continued role. Yet its shift away from outside fact-checking has raised questions about the accuracy of what users see. The platform is also carrying more machine-generated content, which adds another layer of uncertainty for people relying on it to follow events.
TikTok’s Rapid Climb
TikTok’s growth is clear in the numbers. In 2020, only 3 percent of adults said they used the app for news. That share is now 20 percent. Among people under 30, the figure is far higher at 43 percent. Adults in their thirties and forties are also turning to the platform in greater numbers, though older groups remain less likely to depend on it.
Within the TikTok community itself, more than half of users now say they watch news on the app. That puts it on a level with established outlets such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) when measured by how often active users engage with news content.
Generational Divide in News Habits
Age plays a strong role in how people choose platforms. Younger adults are more likely to watch news videos on TikTok and Instagram. Older adults still favor Facebook and YouTube, which provide a mix of text, images, and longer videos. This divide hints at how the next generation of voters and consumers may stay informed, with short clips carrying more weight than long articles or broadcasts.
Policy and Security Concerns
The expansion of TikTok as a news source has also kept policymakers on alert. U.S. officials have questioned how much influence the app might hold because of its Chinese ownership. While the platform avoided a ban after years of debate, its growing role in distributing political and social content ensures it will remain under scrutiny.
A Shifting Information Landscape
The Pew survey points to a media environment in which social networks are not just secondary but central to how Americans track events. Facebook remains the largest hub, but TikTok has become the fastest-growing platform for news use since 2020. As nearly half the country relies on these apps to follow developments, the balance between access, accuracy, and influence continues to shape how people understand the world.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
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