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6h ago

Social Media Tops Traditional News Outlets in US and Australia

Younger audiences embrace personality-led platforms, prompting publishers to address a surge in misinformation risk.

US media personality Joe Rogan stands for a benediction after President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. SAUL LOEB/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
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Overview

  • Fifty-four percent of US adults now access news weekly via social and video networks, overtaking television and news websites for the first time.
  • In Australia, 26% of adults list social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and YouTube as their main news source, surpassing online news outlets.
  • Social media influencers and podcasters—including Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Ben Shapiro—draw large audiences, especially among men under 35.
  • AI chatbots are emerging as a news channel with 7% of adults and 15% of respondents under 25 using them weekly to get news.
  • While global trust in news remains around 40%, concern over distinguishing fact from falsehood reaches 73% in the US and 75% in Australia, and news literacy education is viewed as key to strengthening engagement and verification skills.