Pew Research: Social Media Influencers Provide Political News to 1 in 5 Americans

November 19, 2024 TruthUSA

Among the 500 news influencers studied across five major social media sites, 85 percent have a presence on X, making it the most popular platform.

A recent study by the Pew Research Center shows a noteworthy shift in how Americans consume news, emphasizing the increasing influence of social media influencers.

The report indicates that approximately one in five U.S. adults (21 percent) now rely on influencers on social media platforms for news. This trend is especially prominent among younger adults, with 37 percent of those aged 18 to 29 turning to influencers for news and information.

The study defines “news influencers” as individuals who regularly post about current events and civic issues on social media and have at least 100,000 followers on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. These influencers range from independent content creators to journalists associated with news organizations or operating independently.

“In the heat of the 2024 election, news influencers seemed to be everywhere,” the report observed. “Both Republicans and Democrats accredited content creators to cover their conventions—and encouraged influencers to share their political messages. Influencers also interviewed the candidates and hosted fundraisers for them.”

The report scrutinized a sample of 500 news influencers across five major social media sites, revealing that the majority of these influencers (85 percent) are active on X, making it the most popular platform among them.

Instagram and YouTube are also significant platforms, with 50 percent and 44 percent of influencers utilizing them, respectively.