Social media platforms like Facebook, X and YouTube became America's top news source according to new research. More than half of people read news from these networks compared to television and news websites. The Reuters Institute found 54 percent use social media for news versus 50 percent watching TV and 48 percent reading news sites. Changes happen faster and stronger across America than other countries around the world. Podcaster Joe Rogan reaches nearly one quarter of Americans each week with news content.
Politicians choose friendly online hosts over traditional reporters for interviews more often. These sympathetic personalities rarely ask tough questions and sometimes spread false information. The report shows populist leaders worldwide avoid mainstream journalism through partisan media figures. Social media influencers create as much false news as politicians according to survey respondents globally. Almost half of people blame both groups equally for spreading misleading stories.
Elon Musk's purchase of X brought more right-wing users to the platform during recent years. Conservative Americans tripled their presence on X after the ownership change happened. Right-wing British users almost doubled their activity on the social network. Competing platforms like Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon attract only two percent of news readers worldwide.
Politicians choose friendly online hosts over traditional reporters for interviews more often. These sympathetic personalities rarely ask tough questions and sometimes spread false information. The report shows populist leaders worldwide avoid mainstream journalism through partisan media figures. Social media influencers create as much false news as politicians according to survey respondents globally. Almost half of people blame both groups equally for spreading misleading stories.
Elon Musk's purchase of X brought more right-wing users to the platform during recent years. Conservative Americans tripled their presence on X after the ownership change happened. Right-wing British users almost doubled their activity on the social network. Competing platforms like Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon attract only two percent of news readers worldwide.
