Digital devices have become the primary conduit for news in the United States. A recent Pew Research Center poll shows that 88% of American adults obtain news from smartphones, computers or tablets at least occasionally, and 59% do so on a regular basis. Television remains a significant source, reaching 63% of the population, but radio and print have slipped to double-digit levels, with only 12% and 6% of adults respectively turning to them often.
The same survey reveals that social media is now a staple in the daily news diet: 59% of U.S. adults say they get news from these platforms at least sometimes, a modest rise from the previous year. Among the myriad services, Facebook and YouTube dominate, with 40% and 34% of adults reporting regular news consumption on each. Instagram (23%) and TikTok (20%) also play notable roles, while newer or niche sites—X (formerly Twitter) at 10%, Reddit at 9%, and Nextdoor at 8%—capture smaller slices of the audience.
Platform-specific patterns and emerging channels
When the data are broken down by the proportion of each platform’s users who claim to get news there, the picture becomes more nuanced. Over half of Facebook’s own users (57%) and a similar share of X users (57%) treat the service as a regular news source. TikTok follows closely, with 53% of its users doing the same, and Instagram at 46%. Even the community-focused app Nextdoor has seen a jump, with 45% of its users now regularly accessing news, up from 33% a year earlier.
Emerging technologies are also making inroads. In the past twelve months, 15% of adults reported obtaining news from AI chatbots such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini at least sometimes, compared with just 9% the year before. Email newsletters and podcasts remain relevant too, with 34% and 32% of respondents respectively indicating they sometimes get news through these formats.
Who is getting news where? Demographic and partisan divides
News-seeking behavior on social media varies sharply across gender, age, ethnicity, education and party affiliation. Women are more inclined than men to rely on Facebook and TikTok for news, while men favor YouTube and X. Younger adults (18-29) lead the pack on TikTok, Instagram and Reddit, whereas older cohorts show stronger habits on Facebook and YouTube. Racial and ethnic minorities—Black, Hispanic and Asian Americans—are more likely than White adults to get news from YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Education influences platform choice as well: adults without a college degree are more prone to turn to Facebook and TikTok, whereas college graduates lean toward YouTube and LinkedIn. Politically, Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents favor Instagram, TikTok and Reddit, while Republicans slightly favor Facebook and X. Both parties use YouTube at comparable rates.
S. news ecosystem
These findings underscore a continuing shift toward digital and social platforms as the cornerstone of news consumption in America. While traditional television still commands a sizable audience, the steady rise of platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok—and the growing role of AI-driven tools—suggest that the way information is disseminated and consumed will keep evolving. Media organizations and content creators must therefore adapt to the preferences of distinct demographic groups, ensuring that reliable journalism reaches users wherever they gather online.
