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in General Factchecking by
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.
by (100 points)
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I agree with this statement and found evidence to back it up. I read the article published by the Pew Research Center and reviewed the facts. For example,  31% of American adults absorb their news from Facebook, and 22% get their news from YouTube. The PRC is a trusted source and the authors of the article clearly state how and what methods they used to receive their data, including what groups they included in their scientific studies. These studies were done within the last five years as well, in 2020 and 2021, which makes them still relevant today.
by Newbie (280 points)
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While the article does suggest that social media remains one of the most important news sources for Americans, popularity is on the decline. You have Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter as your main news platforms, with the younger audience moving toward Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Also that misinformation is a pain and the people who read news only in small snippets. The report points out a little earlier that many Americans still rely on social media for news but have little trust in these media for good information. It also mentions that the tendency for users to consume news primarily through short clips and headline snippets contributes to the dissemination of misinformation and limits exposure to different viewpoints. I as well looked into the website https://www.weforum.org/stories/2022/11/social-media-adults-information-news-platforms/, which completely agrees with this article, and even sites it as well. Good work, this is a reliable website and a good claim!
by Newbie (240 points)
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I also agree with this take, this is very well researched. And there are multiple other websites that can back up this claim. I found one from PBS where  it states that 1 in 4 Americans will get their news from news influencers, especially for political sources. The majority of political influencers are men with no media background. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/about-20-of-americans-get-their-news-from-social-media-influencers-report-finds
ago by Newbie (390 points)
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This is a good point. The reliance on social media for news, especially in short snippets, makes fact-checking even more important, especially since misinformation spreads so easily.
ago by (100 points)
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I think that it is true that many Americans rely on social media but it is primarly the younger generations, my parents still use many different sources for news, although I myself use apps like TikTok and instagram as the main way I find news, I think the specification is necessary because the main people that are interested in the news are the older generations

53 Answers

18 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
selected by
 
Best answer

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/

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by Newbie (420 points)
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This is a great fact check as you not only used the original Pew Research, but you found a Washington Post article that uses this data. While pew research is one of the better polling sites good job for not taking the data on its face and finding another source.
by Newbie (460 points)
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This answer is good that Pew Research show the data and the resource to support its analysis. The photo which is showed from the research is clear that allow people to understand more easier.
by Apprentice (1.2k points)
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Way to use actual numbers of research to show the change in trends. You explained the data very well and made it very comprehensible.
by Newbie (350 points)
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This is a great fact check, I think you did a great job at finding multiple sources with the same data to help prove your point. I think it's important to find multiple sources when dealing with analytical evidence.
by Novice (990 points)
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This answer was very good, I enjoyed how you used data from reliable sources such as... Pew Research to back up your statements. Your sources not only provide good information but it's clear/ straight to the point.
by Novice (530 points)
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I agree, actually, with your fact-checking on how social media would change news consumption. Indeed, social networking sites, particularly Facebook, and the new social app and video-based site, TikTok, are the primary or main news sources of almost anybody today. Speaking from my personal experience, the ease this brings via social media gives me reason to often look them up when I need a quicker update, without even knowing that, in general, they usually do not come by with that rigor like "real news". As statistics show by the Pew Research Center, according to the Washington Post, social media has been found not only to be everywhere but even to change the way people perceive news, even at the risk of misinformation. Along with this trend, it is important to show the credibility of sources used in news.
by Novice (890 points)
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This is a great factcheck. You use credible sources and statistics to prove your reasoning, and are very concise and efficient in your response. I would add onto the claim that a big component of misinformation being spread on social media is that it doesn't need to be fact checked anymore or written by professionals, but anyone with an account can say anything. This is dangerous because not only can misinformation be spread quickly, but bias or prejudice can fuel some of these messages.
by Novice (630 points)
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great fact check and use of sources. Media truly is evolving faster than we realize it will be interesting to see the impacts in the future
by Newbie (420 points)
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I agree with this fact check due to the fact that it is more common for people to gain their news on social media now that the use of these popular apps have risen over the years while watching actual news channels has started to drop. This fact check does a great job of using other sources that prove that help to back up the information being stated. I also like how the fact check didn't provide any unnecessary information and only used the parts of the information that was used to support the claim.
by Apprentice (1.3k points)
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solid fact check with good information. I like how you referenced the original pew research data while adding another source to reinforce your claim.
by Newbie (230 points)
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I think your reply is great! adding on to the source that was already given and adding one of your own strengthening your response offering a great education opportunity for us readers.
by Newbie (400 points)
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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.
by Newbie (360 points)
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I think that the use of sources in this answer is very helpful in explaining why the claim is true, and I like how descriptive this comment is.
by Newbie (280 points)
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I appreciate how you used a reliable source to support your factcheck that used real data and statistical evidence to back up the claim.
by Novice (530 points)
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The article you provided to back up your evidence is a credible site, being the Washington post. I was worried the article would be biased, but they provided a study from Pew Research Center which added even more credibility.
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
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Social media is definitely a point of concern for the modern day discourse. Your use of data and links to sources are very helpful in backing up the initial post and your own factcheck!
by Novice (860 points)
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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?
by Newbie (380 points)
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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.
by Novice (860 points)
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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!
by Newbie (320 points)
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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!
by Newbie (360 points)
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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.
by Novice (640 points)
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I think this is a good fact check. You provided adequate evidence and used credible sources. I think the thing I would change is trying to find newer-aged sources to make it more specific to this time.
by Novice (680 points)
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I agree with your fact check and I liked the way you set up and worded everything! While I do agree, I think it would boost your fact check even more if you had 1 or 2 more cited sources for additional support.
by Newbie (260 points)
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I think this is a really good fact check. You gave great evidence and backed it up with reliable and credible sources. I think the only thing that would improve your fact check is to use a more recent source.
by Newbie (430 points)
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Your answer provided all the information and facts supporting your claim. I have found another article from 2024 at CNS website where author state that "91% of American adults under 30 said they consume news on digital devices at least sometimes, compared with roughly 50% or less who include traditional media formats like television, radio and print in their media diet.". There are multiple sources that provide the same information, with emphasis on young people playing a big role in that process.

https://cnsmaryland.org/2024/12/05/influencers-election-social-media/
by Newbie (380 points)
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This is a great fact check. Taking the claim and those statistics and finding them sorted in another credible source is a great way to prove that what research has been conducted is legitimate.
by Newbie (350 points)
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Very thorough fact check! I like how you included statistics from credible sources and combined that with your view on receiving news from social media. I recommend using another source next time to make your claim stronger!
by Newbie (240 points)
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This claim is very well researched, I like how you mentioned that even reputable news sources can claim misinformation just like how it can happen over social media. It just shows that people need to take the time and effort to have an understanding where their news sources are coming from and if it has a bias seeping through.
ago by Newbie (310 points)
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I think this fact check is well done. This was researched well and I like how you added the statistics and percentages to go with your claim. It is important you added the link to your source at the bottom so people can explore the article more. I found this interesting and I agree with the claim.
ago by Newbie (470 points)
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I believe this fact check is done very well. Your answer had all the information needed to prove this is true. Including the statistics in your fact-check was very helpful. I thought this was interesting and I agree with the claim.
ago by Newbie (440 points)
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This is a great factcheck! I liked how you provided the source you used, and I liked how you efficiently proved the credibility of this claim. I liked how you included statistics, which helped further support the claim. Your summary was easy to understand, overall I think this is a good factcheck.
ago by Newbie (360 points)
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I believe your statement is very good! I enjoyed the use of a credible and reliable resource like the Washington post. How you proved the credibility and included different stats from it helped support your claim. It was easy to understand and well written!
ago by Newbie (270 points)
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You present a strong argument about social media's growing role in news consumption, backed by credible sources like Pew Research and The Washington Post. Your use of data effectively supports your claim, making your argument more persuasive. One way to strengthen your response could be to explore why people prefer social media over traditional news outlets—perhaps considering convenience, personalization, or accessibility. Additionally, while you acknowledge misinformation, discussing whether social media platforms are taking steps to address this issue could add more depth. Overall, your response is well-researched and insightful.
ago by Newbie (270 points)
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This is a great fact-check! I appreciated how you provided your source and effectively demonstrated the credibility of the claim. Your inclusion of statistics further strengthened your argument, making it more persuasive. Your summary was clear and easy to understand, making for a well-executed analysis.
3 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (430 points)

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.

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by Apprentice (1.1k points)
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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.
by Apprentice (1.0k points)
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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?
by Innovator (51.8k points)
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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!
by Newbie (460 points)
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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.
by Newbie (400 points)
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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.
by Newbie (200 points)
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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.
by Apprentice (1.6k points)
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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.
by Newbie (350 points)
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I agree, I as well find myself getting my news from social media then proceeding to fact check it with other sources. I like how you included that considering a lot of people our age have experienced getting news from social media. The link you provided also backs your claim as to why this is true providing graphs and additional information.
by Novice (950 points)
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This factcheck is dependent on the same source as the claim and doesn't go deeper to verify any other information. Instead, it is substantiated by personal opinion/experience. Many of the other checks on this same claim use several sources to check the information in the original post and don't contain personal input. While definitely good insight, it doesn't really meet the criteria of a full fact check.
4 like 1 dislike
by Newbie (320 points)

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/

True
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
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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.
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
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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.
by Novice (510 points)
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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.
by Novice (950 points)
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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.
by Novice (660 points)
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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.
by Novice (770 points)
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Your response to the claim provides evidence from government articles which does a really good job to back up your claim. It also helps that you have multiple sources.
by Newbie (380 points)
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Your response is well written and I love the inclusion of several sources that use the same statistics. You also addressed the credibility of the original source which helped in the process of fact-checking the main claim.
ago by Newbie (310 points)
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I like that you have multiple sources, it shows you spent time looking into this topic. I think it would have been good to write a little more explaining what you think, personally experiences, and even explaining all three articles more to add more. But, I agree with this claim and your point comes across clearly.
ago by Apprentice (1.5k points)
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This is a good factcheck, it is concise and well formatted, however, it is confusing what your sources relate to, and why they back up the claim. I think it might be more effective to include why your sources support the claim.
1 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (360 points)

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.

True
by Novice (740 points)
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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.
by Novice (870 points)
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This factcheck is effective in that it cites the original article, and goes well into depth about the credibility of the source and its claim. It's also important to note that the original 2021 article is merely subjective, and as you said, lacks evidence to be generalized to 2024 populations.
0 like 1 dislike
by Newbie (280 points)

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 

True
by Newbie (410 points)
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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!
by Novice (530 points)
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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!
by Newbie (200 points)
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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
by Newbie (460 points)
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Your fact check has a good conclusion that brings it back to the main point of the fact check. Some things you could fix is to make sure that each of your points is clearly articulated for the reader as well as having a consistent flow so the reader doesn't have a hard time understanding.
3 like 0 dislike
by Novice (870 points)
edited by
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/
True
by Newbie (380 points)
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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
2 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (310 points)

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.

True
by Innovator (51.8k points)
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It's best to find additional sources besides what's included in the claim to see if it is true or not.
by Novice (880 points)
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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.
1 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (460 points)

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/

by Newbie (390 points)
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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.
by Newbie (460 points)
0 0
You did a great job fact checking and adding multiple credible sources. One thing that would have helped make your fact check perfect is the flow between the points you are making. Make sure that the transition is smooth and is easy for the reader.
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (340 points)
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)
True
3 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (360 points)

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

True
by Novice (990 points)
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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.
by Newbie (260 points)
0 0
This is completely true, not only do half of adults in the USA get their news from social media 2/3 adults also agree that getting news from social media is a bad thing and unreliable. According to the PEW research center the most common apps used for news consumption are Facebook and Instagram which could be problematic due to the fact that they have both discontinued their fact checking programs on new posts, thus creating a widespread of false information. Making almost half of Americans main source of news not being very reliable.

sources: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/about-20-of-americans-get-their-news-from-social-media-influencers-report-finds#:~:text=About%2020%25%20of%20Americans%20get,influencers%2C%20report%20finds%20%7C%20PBS%20News
https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/social-media-and-news-fact-sheet/

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