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.

Answer 1

This claim states “Many Americans rely on social media for news” is true because it has been shown in different studies and even articles. The article listed below refers to the “Pew Research Center” for their reasons for how people rely on social media. People of all ages now use social media because of the rise of popularity it has gathered over the years. This makes Facebook one of the most popular sources with 30% of adults regularly getting their news from there (according to Pew). Which is then followed by YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formally known as Twitter).

Now, to reference the Pew article “How Americans Get News on TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram”, it has been shown that most news consumers on each platform say that they notice some news that seems inaccurate. Users that use “X and Facebook are more likely to see news articles on each platform, with 79% of X users and 74% of Facebook users saying they do. Americans who use TikTok (57%) and Instagram (52%) are less likely to report seeing news articles (quote from How Americans Get News on TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram).”   

If you need help trying to figure out if something is fake news or need help seeing misinformation, check the link below. Since many people use social media as a source of news, it’s always helpful to go through these simple steps to fact-check.

How to spot misinformation: https://guides.stlcc.edu/fakenews/factchecking

 

Sources used: https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2024/06/12/how-americans-get-news-on-tiktok-x-facebook-and-instagram/

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

 

Answer 2

This article is accurate. The data from Pew Research confirms that social media remains a primary source of news, though its role has slightly decreased in recent years. As the article states, "A third of U.S. adults (31%) say they get news regularly on Facebook, while about one in five Americans (22%) say they regularly get news on YouTube. Twitter and Instagram are regular news sources for 13% and 11% of Americans, respectively" (third paragraph). The article highlights that social media platforms provide accessible news content for a wide audience regardless of demographic factors like age, gender, race, or ethnicity. However, since social media algorithms tailor feeds to users’ preferences, there’s a risk of receiving news aligned only with personal biases, potentially limiting exposure to diverse perspectives. This curated approach might contribute to misinformation, as the platform prioritizes engagement over accuracy. Overall, the article's claim is well-supported by data, and it reflects real trends observed in daily interactions with peers and social media news habits.