A new Pew Research Center study reveals a significant shift in how Americans consume news, highlighting the growing role of social media influencers.
The report found that about one in five U.S. adults (21 percent) now regularly get their news from influencers on social media platforms. This trend is even more pronounced among younger adults, with 37 percent of those aged 18 to 29 turning to influencers for news and information.
The study defines “news influencers” as individuals who regularly post about current events and civic issues on social media and have at least 100,000 followers on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. These influencers range from independent content creators to journalists affiliated with news organizations or who operate independently….