One in Five Americans Now Rely on Social Media Influencers for News

A new Pew study highlights the growing influence of non-traditional news sources, with significant implications for media consumption and misinformation.

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.