Overview

• The Pew Research Center found that 20% of Americans regularly get news from social media influencers, with this trend more prevalent among younger adults and minority groups.
• Most influencers lack formal journalism experience, and around 77% have no ties to traditional media organizations.
• The majority of news influencers are male, with platforms like YouTube and Facebook showing the largest gender disparity.
• Influencers are more likely to lean right politically, though TikTok is an exception with a more balanced political representation.
• Concerns about misinformation persist, as influencers often operate without the editorial standards that guide traditional news outlets.