Social Media Overtakes TV As Top News Source

The 2025 Digital News Report from Oxford’s Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism reveals a historic shift: for the first time, more Americans are turning to social media for news than traditional television. The study, released this week, surveyed nearly 100,000 people across 48 countries about their news consumption over the past week, covering sources like social and video networks, TV, online news sites, podcasts, print, and AI-generated news.

Social media topped the list, with 54% of U.S. respondents using it for news, edging out television at 50% and online news sites at 48%. Print media has seen a steep decline, dropping from 47% in 2013 to just 14% in 2025. The survey, conducted online, may lean toward younger, digitally savvy respondents, but the trend is clear: social media’s dominance is growing, particularly in the U.S., where the shift is more pronounced than globally.

AI chatbots are emerging as a news source, used by 7% of respondents overall but 15% of those under 25. Several factors drive this shift. The U.S. lacks a unifying national media outlet, like the BBC in the UK, resulting in a fragmented, often polarized media landscape. Major publishers’ slow adoption of video-first platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts has allowed individual creators to fill the gap. Additionally, platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok deliver fast, shareable news, easily accessible on ubiquitous smartphones.

Despite AI’s growing presence, trust in it is waning. The report highlights a preference for human-driven, personality-based news sources. A February 2025 Pew Research study supports this, noting that 21% of Americans rely on “news influencers” who resonate with their worldviews. This trend benefits politicians, the RISJ notes, as they can bypass traditional media for friendly influencers who avoid tough questions.

The findings underscore a rapidly evolving news landscape where trust, personality, and accessibility shape how Americans stay informed.