Many Americans rely social media for news

Question

The Pew Research Center article titled "News Consumption Across Social Media in 2021" explains how Americans consume news on various social media platforms. It reveals that while a big portion of U.S. adults still get their news from social media, this trend has slightly declined compared to previous years. Facebook remains the most popular platform for news, followed by YouTube and Twitter, with younger users increasingly turning to Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat for news. Despite the frequent use of social media for news, the accuracy of information on these platforms is low. Most users consume news in short clips or snippets, rarely looking for in-depth analysis or other viewpoints, which can contribute to the spread of misinformation.

Comments

After reading the article posted from the person with the claim, "Many Americans rely on social media for news," I have concluded that it is in fact true that many Americans get their news from social media. However, the accuracy of the information provided isn't reliable. As social media is biased and very opinionated, it is so easy to misinformation as well as disinformation. From the article, "The majority of regular news consumers of many sites are Democrats or lean Democratic. This may be related to the relatively young age profile of the news consumer base of these social media sites. No social media site included here has regular news consumers who are more likely to be Republican or lean Republican." (Walker, Matsa 2024). This tells you that political differences could be based off where you get your information from. Since social media doesn't only specialize in just news or politics, it isn't the right source to get knowledge from as it is biased and made to be personalized with each user's creation.

https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2021/09/20/news-consumption-across-social-media-in-2021/

---

You did a good job finding reliable research to support your claim that people's different sources of information could cause political differences. It is valuable that you reported that a large number of consumers of news sites lean left, as this provides further context into which demographic primarily finds their news from social media and its inherent consequences. However, I question whether your statement of social media not being the "right source to get knowledge" due to its biases may be too generalized. While it is true that a majority of the content of social media includes biases, some creators on these platforms may have a more objective and neutral stance on the news.

Answer 1

With the rise of social media many other forms of news media have lost their audience. Social media sites are more prevalent in daily lives and quick and convient ways to view information. Pew Reasearch Center conducted surveys and provides many statistics and visuals for the percentage of Americans that obtain information from social media. This data was cited in a Washington Post article about the domination of social media regarding news coverage. Social media is converting from an easy form of information to the many’s main source for news. In 2021, nearly half of Facebook users (47%)  and about less than a third of TikTok users (29%) stated that that is where they get their news. Although news outlets can also spread misinformation, social media is a less reputable source with platforms that can post easier and spread un-factchecked information to the masses at a much faster pace. With the presented data and considering the widespread presence of social media I believe that this claim is legitimate.

Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/11/15/news-trends-social/

Comments

An aspect that made your fact-check especially strong is your explanation of how Pew Research Center gathered its data, showing that it is a reliable and truthful collection of data. In addition, while citing statistics, you provided nuance to the benefits and drawbacks of getting news from social media while also analyzing the sources you based these statistics off of. I wonder, since the survey was conducted amongst social media users if this makes the results less accurate compared to where the general population, users and non-users alike, gather their news. In other words, is the actual number of Americans who rely on social media for news lower than how it is portrayed in the survey, which only questions Americans who already use social media?

---

I agree with your claims and how you cited sources. The Washington Post I would say is a reliable source so having them back your statement makes it stronger.

---

This fact check does a great job of highlighting the shift in how people access news, particularly the growing role of social media in replacing traditional news outlets. The statistics from the Pew Research Center and the Washington Post help to highlight the significant change in how Americans get their information, with platforms like Facebook and TikTok becoming key sources for news for many users. It's especially important to emphasize how quickly misinformation can spread on social media, and how it can sometimes overshadow more reputable news sources.

One area to improve on could be to include more recent data to reflect how the trends in social media news consumption may have evolved since 2021, especially given the constant changes in social media usage patterns. Additionally, exploring how different demographic groups (age, political affiliation, etc.) use social media for news could add further depth to the analysis and provide a clearer picture of the shift in news consumption across various segments of society. Overall, this is a well-researched and good fact check!

---

This is a great take and source as it is very credible. It is easy to assume that most Americans rely solely on social media platforms for news intake but this source backs up this claim with an unbiased factual response. The charts provided were also very insightful. The source is a little dated as it primarily focuses on past results so although it is a great source more recent data may be helpful to further back the claim. Thanks!

---

I agree that social media has become prevalent in so many of our daily lives. It is both easy to consume and spread misinformation online if we are not careful.

Answer 2

According to https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/social-media-and-news-fact-sheet/#:~:text=Digital%20sources%20have%20become%20an,%25)%20and%20Rumble%20(2%25). at least 54% of the United States gets their news from social media. Due to having a continuously expanding and improving media, it is much faster and more convenient to gather news and information at the touch of a button. More and more generations are growing up on mass media so it only makes sense. Personally as an 18 year old kid, I get all my news from media and over time I have seen less and less newspapers in homes, including my 60 and 70 year old grandparents who always had the tableside news paper. Off of research and personal experience, I do believe it to be true that most people get their news from the media. Now not all news may be 100% accurate but that is why we research, use multiple medias and understand the news.

Comments

I like how you both affirm the claim but also offer the elaboration of using multiple medias to check our news. You make it clear that you agree with the given claim, with the caveat that just because we GET our news from social media, doesn't mean it's CORRECT, so while we can get our news from wherever we want, it's important to make sure that news is backed up appropriately.

---

Just like with any type of media and form of news, it’s important to factcheck the news itself. That said I feel there would be a great amount of value in a study that checks the amount of misinformation in social media compared to other sources of news. I feel as if this article doesn’t address that so much and I feel that a larger discussion could arise from this study. If a larger portion of young people get their news from social media, shouldn’t we ensure that news is actually the most credible?

---

Rather than rely on the claim's source, you could dig further and find another news or academic outlet that can confirm the data. Thanks!

---

Because of your said, when we need to fact-check, we should check with different parts of resources to make sure that the research is true.

---

This is a great factcheck! While you also use your own source in terms of researching this topic and can further fuel that the use of media is just how news will be perceived. I like that you use your own life as another piece of research, because I see your point of few as another 18 year old myself. Physical newspapers are a constant and I think people will keep up with them, but in a lot of cases the news will work with one another print and online to spread news efficiently.

---

I do agree with your claim that, "Due to having a continuously expanding and improving media, it is much faster and more convenient to gather news and information at the touch of a button." While it is easier to access the media than other news channels, there's no proof to tell how accurate the information is. People tend to not go the extra step and look up information on actual news websites. from another article, How the Youth in the US consumes its News," they agree that, "One of the biggest challenges we have in our newsrooms is bringing the younger audiences to our platforms. The general assumption is that youth isn’t really interested in news," while many youths might not be interested in the news, it will affect them somehow in their future.
"Another student shared they all watch TikTok and discuss the most viral videos in school.
In addition to TikTok, what struck me the most is they expressed a same concern about bias and partisanship in media coverage." I hear a lot of "Did you see this on tiktok?" around school, which tells me how influenced the youth is by the media. they see everything on the media but doesn't apply the full context. In conclusion, i would just make sure you're fact checking your news and know where the information is coming from.

---

While I agree with your point that "due to having a continuously expanding and improving media, it is much faster and more convenient to gather news and information at the touch of a button," I do not believe that there is any solid, inarguable proof to allow the audience to decipher whether or not the information is accurate. I feel that the article you provided fails to address the amount of misinformation spread on social media as compared to news sources considered to be more reputable. I feel that the addition of this to the article would make it much more trustable. Rather than relying mostly on the claim's source, dig a little bit deeper to find an academic or other news source that can confirm, or even add some data to the claim.

Answer 3

This claim appears to be true. Pew Research is a historically trustworthy organization and many articles have cited this information including The National Library of Medicine, a government website. Pew Research states that as much as 48% of Americans get their news sometimes or often from social media sources.

WP article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/11/15/news-trends-social/

Delaware County Community College: https://learningcommons.dccc.edu/c.php?g=609709&p=9445341

The National Library of Medicine: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10879158/

Comments

This answer is thorough in its research, with you providing three other sources to help back up your claim. Looking for government articles are a good way of figuring out if something is factual or not, and this makes me more inclined to believe that the claims are correct.

---

I agree with your fact check, I like the added credible sources. They give a good reason why the claim is proven to be true.

---

I found this response to be very thorough and carefully thought out. The three additional sources provided helped to back up the fact check for this claim helping it prove to be true. This fact check was very reliable.

---

This response provides a lot of evidence as to why the claim is true and does a good job analyzing the original source. Factchecking by looking at multiple articles is a great way to make sure the information you found is true.

---

Your response to the claim provides well-backed evidence on why the claim is correct. The three sources you included in your post help interpret the original claim's source and also help FactCheck.

Answer 4

The article published September 20, 2021, states that around half of all Americans use social media for News access, mentioning the rate has declined since 2020. While the rest of the article dissects the different modes of social media news across different platforms, and one diagram showcasing the demographic of social media users, to focus on the claim alone, the first graph in the article appears to be the most relevant. This chart is titled “About half of Americans get news on social media at least sometimes, down slightly from 2020” and is based on a survey conducted by Pew Research Center titled: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 26—Aug. 8, 2021 “News Consumption Across Social Media in 2021”. The article and this graph were posted on Pew Research Center, a self-identified “nonpartisan fact tank” according to the “About” section on their webpage. The Pew Research Center appears to be a reputable source, with the article being published on JSTOR. I had questions about the validity of the survey itself, but Pew Research states that they rely on random sampling and reach out to selected participants via mail based on government residential addresses to complete the survey online. Obviously, this leaves out a portion of citizens who are houseless or don’t use the internet, but the survey itself generally seems to be unbiased. Overall, this claim lacks evidence to be generalized to 2024 based on this article alone, but the statement that many Americans rely on social media for news in 2021 appears to be true based on this article.

Comments

You did well on your factcheck with citing if the original source is credible or not. It would be good to also include your own sources of what you researched to help support your claim.

Answer 5

This claim seems to be true.  The Pew Research Center and Forbes Magazine both have the number of people getting their news from social media at over 45% (48% and 64.5% respectively).  Although there is a large gap between those two numbers, that can most likely be attributed to different survey methods, and the two articles being published three years apart.  Either way, there is a significant amount of people getting their news from social media. 

How Social Media Has Changed How We Consume News 

Comments

I like how you looked at the statistical analysis behind this claim. It is very important to consider the ways in which a source gathered its facts and research and you investigated into that. You even accounted for a gap in numbers that was likely caused by a difference in survey methods. You also looked at the time in which these articles were published which is also very important, especially with how rapidly changing anything social media related is. Great job!

---

I completely agree with you. Though the difference between Pew Research Center and Forbes is perhaps because of the way the surveys were conducted and the time when they were taken, from both sources, it's clear that the chunk of people obtaining news from social media is huge. This is a major trend, underpinning how social media use is becoming increasingly influential in shaping public opinion and access to information. Really Good Fact-Check!

---

I agree with your comment whereas 45% of the youth is getting news reports from social media. This can probably prove why majority of the youth is leaning democrat because of what they see on social media. however, if you get to the statistics, most of the information shared on social media isn't accurate. I looked up on the web, "Is social media a reliable source?" And from the article by Huang, "I can zip through about 10 posts on Instagram and X in just 15 minutes before dashing off to class rather than slogging through a single article. The speed and convenience are unbeatable compared to the old-school news cycle.

But, do I get much from these bite-sized updates? Am I truly understanding the full story? Honestly, the answer is “not really.” When it comes to relying on social media for news, it’s a mixed bag. Sure, it’s great for getting a quick glimpse of what’s happening, but for anything important — whether you’re deciding how to vote or where to invest — you have to dig deeper. You need to go back to the full articles and, even better, check out the primary sources they’re based on.
When it comes to politics and voting, I think that people should gather more knowledge than what the media offers to gather your own thoughts and views- to decide what political party you are voting for. As social media doesn't have that many features to even tell you if it is true or not. Also with the new technology like, GenAI, things can be made up instantly. So take information in with a grain of salt. I have experienced trying to share my personal views and opinions on my personal page, but today, it isn't quit allowed or taken lightly if someone so happened to be republican instead of democrat. I have seen people bashing others based off their points of views, and this is a huge problem because one's interpretation or idea of something shouldn't be recognized just because it is different than someone else's.  



https://www.jhunewsletter.com/article/2024/04/is-social-media-a-reliable-news-source

Answer 6

This claim is true. According to Christopher Bach, a 23 year old electrician interviewed by the Washington Post, many people are turning to social media and apps on their cell phones because it is quicker and more reliable often times. Bach tells us, "That's why I don't watch the news, because it's not the best way to get unbiased news; it's more for entertainment." According to Pew Research data, 48% of people turn to social media for news. Of that, 31% of U.S. adults say that they regularly get their news from Facebook, 22% say they regularly get their news from Youtube, an additional 25% get their news from various platforms (Tiktok, Reddit, etc.), and 55% of Twitter users say that they use the app to get their news. Due to its ease and quickness, people are turning to social media and apps as distrust in television news grows and the prevalence of newspapers shrinks. The implication of this is that social media is a more trustworthy place to get news, but this is entirely untrue. It's much easier to spread misinformation/disinformation on social media platforms, and oftentimes people don't think to factcheck the information they get online. So while this claim is true, people should be aware of the risks of consistently using social media to get news.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/11/15/news-trends-social/

https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2021/09/20/news-consumption-across-social-media-in-2021/

Comments

Super reliable research! You did a great job at providing a lot of information and I like that you also said that most people use social media news for entertainment, i really feel like thats true. great job

Answer 7

Throughout the article the claim that many Americans rely on social media for news is being supported. The article states “that 55% of American adults use social media to access news, a significant increase from previous years”. Also that 18% of people use social media to help themselves keep up with politics. However the group is less informed about certain things such as key issues going on around the world because news on social media can often portray things a certain way to manipulate someone's point of view and change their understanding. Such as people who rely on social media for news are often tricked because all they do is go off what they see online which leads to people not evaluating certain medias and making sure they are credible or not.

Comments

It's best to find additional sources besides what's included in the claim to see if it is true or not.

---

I like how informative this factcheck is, however I believe it could be stronger if you included more about the source. For me, "the article" isn't enough for me to know where this information came from. I could look at the article in question linked in the post, but I feel like if the source credibility was addressed this wouldn't be needed.

Answer 8

This claim is true that Pew Research is a trustworthy organization. The National Library of Medicine and a government website both cite the information from this research. Pew Research shows that many people are increasingly turning to social media and apps on their phones for news because they find it quicker and more reliable than traditional sources like television or newspapers. Christopher Bach, a 23-year-old electrician, shared in an interview with the Washington Post that he prefers social media for news, stating, "That's why I don't watch the news, because it's not the best way to get unbiased news; it's more for entertainment." Pew Research supports this trend, revealing that 48% of Americans get news from social media, with platforms like Facebook (31%), YouTube (22%), and Twitter (55%) playing a significant role. Despite the convenience, relying on social media for news presents risks, as misinformation spreads easily, and many users fail to fact-check the information they encounter.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/11/15/news-trends-social/

https://learningcommons.dccc.edu/c.php?g=609709&p=9445341

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10879158/

https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2021/09/20/news-consumption-across-social-media-in-2021/

Comments

This fact check effectively supports the claim with solid evidence, but an important factor to consider is the lack of accountability in social media content. Unlike traditional news outlets, where journalists follow ethical guidelines and editorial standards, anyone can post news-like content on social media without any oversight. This makes it easier for false or misleading information to be shared rapidly.

Answer 9

This claim is true. Looking at the article the claimer provided (News Consumption 2021), it shows a little graph about Americans and if they get news through social media. 29% said sometimes, as 24% said never. Now this article was also published in September 2021, so this was before Covid-19 hit. After Covid hit people got news from everywhere. Whether it was Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (known as “X” now), radios, live television, it has all changed somehow now. Now this article (published in November 2023) is a little more recent to the changes. In the article, it says “Since 2020, the number of Tik Tok users who say they get news on the app has almost doubled. A third of adults under 30 and 14 percent of all adults in the United States now regularly get news from the viral video app, though it still follows behind Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook.” We can see the changes now just through one social media app so imagine the changes on the others. (News Article 2023)

Answer 10

The claim that "many Americans rely on social media for news" is supported by highly regarded sources. According to the Pew Research Center's article on news consumption across social media in 2021, a significant portion of Americans rely on their news from social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Pew Research conducted many surveys, statistics, and provided charts to understand the signficance social media has had on the way we receive our news. Pew Research states that "a little under half (48%) of U.S. adults say they get news from social media "often" or "sometimes," highlighting the growing rate these platforms have in our consumption of news dissemination. 

To cross check this information, I referred to similar reports on social media consumption trends, that align and confirm Pew's findings. In Pew's Research they stated that "younger adults, those ages 18-29, are far more likely to reguarly get news on both Snapchat and TikTok" and that statement was confirmed on the American Press Institute. The American Press Institute found that Gen Z and Millenials are far more likely to recieve their news from Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, and Reddit. They state that "71% get news from social media platforms at least daily and 91% at least weekly." Furthermore, reports from the Wall Street Journal confirm the idea that many Americans rely on social media for news by revleaing Gen Z favors social and digital formats because these sources offer more immediate, interactive, and engaging news experiences than tradtional sources such as newspapers. 

https://americanpressinstitute.org/the-news-consumption-habits-of-16-to-40-year-olds/

https://deloitte.wsj.com/cmo/digital-social-media-power-gen-z-teens-news-consumption-01655136478

Comments

I enjoyed this fact check because not only did you just provide you sources but you also gave certain examples of what types of social media/ its effects on getting accurate information when it comes to people consumption. I also liked how you gave certain percentages which is easy to read and understand.