TikTok has become the top social media platform for news consumption among U.S. adults ages 18 to 29, overtaking YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for the first time, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
The data shows 43% of these young adults regularly get news on TikTok, compared to 41% on YouTube and Facebook, 40% on Instagram, 21% on X, and 18% on Reddit.
This marks a significant shift: Last year, YouTube and Instagram tied as leaders, while TikTok has seen the sharpest rise—from 32% in 2023 to 43% in 2025—driven by the appeal of short-form, creator-led content that feels organic and less polished.
Overall, 76% of 18- to 29-year-olds prefer getting news from social media, far outpacing traditional news websites (60%) or email newsletters (28%).
Examples include the news account @UnderTheDeskNews, led by creator V Spehar, with nearly 4 million TikTok followers and 1 million on Instagram. Before his assassination in September 2025, conservative personality Charlie Kirk had over 7 million TikTok followers.
TikTok has introduced tools like footnotes for factual clarity and partnered with fact-checkers in 130 markets to combat misinformation.
However, the rise of AI-generated content has heightened concerns about misinformation and propaganda spreading on the platform.