For the first time, the proportion of Americans turning to social media for news surpassed traditional platforms like TV.
Oxford’s Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism released its 2025 Digital News Report this week, and the data shows a shift in how Americans get their news.
Researchers surveyed nearly 100,000 people across 48 countries and asked how often they used certain forms of media to get their news in the past week – social and video networks, TV, online news sites, news podcasts, print, and AI news.
Also: How new Facebook policies incentivize spreading misinformation
For the first time this year (the RISJ has released a media report every year since 2012), the No. 1 spot, or the largest proportion of respondents who used a particular source in the past week, went to social media, with 54%. Traditional television claimed the No. 2 spot with 50%. Online news sites were right behind at 48%. Not surprisingly, print media has plummeted in the past decade, with 47% of people getting their news from print in 2013, but only 14% in 2025.
The study was conducted via an online questionnaire, which means the data probably does skew towards a younger, digitally connected demographic overall, but the rising-and-falling trends stand. While this study includes data from users around the world, the rise in social media is happening faster and with more impact in the US.
While still a small presence, AI chatbots have also entered the picture. Seven percent of overall users said they get news from AI chatbots, but the under-25 age bracket is much higher – 15%.
<!–>
–>
Nieman Lab
Why are people turning to social media for news?
What’s driving the change? There are likely several reasons.
First, the US doesn’t have a singular, national media brand like other nations have, like the BBC in the UK. This leads to a fragmented, often partisan media market.
Second, many major media publishers didn’t devote resources to video-first platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, opening the way for individual creators to gain a foothold.
<!–>
Third, platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok prioritize quick, shareable news, and with the ubiquity of smartphones, people are accessing news on the go.
What’s interesting is that as AI continues its rise in popularity, people are increasingly losing trust in it. A human, personality-driven connection seems more important to news than ever. People aren’t content just reading or watching their news, but they’re finding individuals they trust (and perhaps more importantly, align with their worldview). A Pew Research study from February echoes the rise of these personalities, showing that about 21% of Americans get news from what it calls “news influencers.”
This phenomenon has been quite beneficial for politicians, the RISJ study said, who can now bypass traditional media for party-friendly personalities that likely won’t ask pressing questions.
A critical eye is more important than ever
What can we take away from this data? As people trust social media more than ever, it’s going to be critically important to more closely analyze what’s real and what’s not. AI video generators can already produce reasonably convincing content, and more than half of respondents (58%) said they are worried about what’s real or fake when it comes to online news.
How you can help fight misinformation and disinformation online
The news landscape has almost certainly shifted permanently, so it’s going to take a critical eye to make sure what you’re seeing is authentic. As it gets harder to tell what’s real, there are a few tips to remember to make sure you’re not helping spread misinformation.
Always verify your sources, and make sure what you share comes from a primary source or a legitimate media organization. If it’s an image in question, you can use a reverse image search tool to see where it originated or where else it shows up online. Sometimes, images can be taken out of context and used to push an agenda.
Also, take a moment to think before you share anything. Someone who creates disinformation almost always has an ulterior motive, so if a post makes you exceptionally angry, outraged, or sad, consider the source. Always be skeptical. Is what you’re seeing backed by evidence?
Lastly, if you can’t verify something, don’t share it.
