Americans follow the news less than they did a decade ago, according to a Pew Research Center study released in August.
To track these shifts, researchers surveyed 5,153 randomly selected American adults on their news habits.
This year, 36% of respondents said they follow the news “all or most of the time,” down from 52% in 2018. The 16-point drop reflects a steady decline in regular engagement over the past seven years.
How do Americans get their news?
While Americans engage with the news less often, the platforms they use have shifted more gradually.
In 2025, 64% of respondents said they get news from websites and apps “often” or “sometimes,” compared to 69% in 2020. Podcasts, meanwhile, grew in reach: 32% said they hear news from podcasts, up 10 points over five years.
Television remains the most preferred source. This year, 34% of respondents named TV as their primary medium for news, nearly unchanged from 35% in 2020. Social media preference dropped to 14%, down four points from last year.
The survey also examined platform-specific usage. YouTube remained the most widely used, with 84% of respondents reporting they use the site. Elon Musk’s X/Twitter was used by 21%. The number of respondents who said they do not use X rose from 70% in 2022 to 77% in 2023, following Musk’s acquisition of the platform.
Social media, AI, and 'newsfluencers' change media landscape
High usage does not always translate into news consumption. Despite extensive social media use, only about half of users of specific platforms reported getting news from them. For example, although 7 out of 10 respondents reported using Facebook, only 38% said they got news from the platform.
The study also examined newer sources of information, including AI. When asked about artificial intelligence (AI), a negligible percentage reported regularly receiving news from AI sources such as ChatGPT. Additionally, only 24% of respondents said that they find it “easy to determine what is true and what is not.”
Together, these two statistics indicate widespread public skepticism about AI's accuracy and reluctance to rely on it.
Beyond platforms and technology, Pew looked at who Americans rely on for news. In 2025, 21% of respondents “regularly get news from news influencers on social media,” unchanged from 2024.
The poll defined news influencers as “individuals who have a large following on social media and often post about news or political or social issues.”
What makes a 'newsfluencer' attractive?
Respondents offered insight into why they turn to these influencers. Participants who reported getting news from news influencers listed speed and ease of understanding as major reasons for using them as a source. Personal connection and entertainment value had lower importance, at 23% and 37%, respectively.
Surprisingly, only 39% of respondents said that the influencer having “opinions or values” that the respondent agreed with was a “major reason,” showing some willingness among the public to engage with varied sources despite not necessarily agreeing with them.
Overall, the findings point to an evolving news environment. While Americans engage less with news, habits across platforms are shifting subtly.
As traditional outlets such as television and newspapers compete with emerging social media and AI, Americans are left balancing convenience and credibility in a crowded news environment.