December 30 — According to Business Insider, TikTok has overtaken other social media rivals to become the preferred platform for news among young people in the United States.

The latest survey data from Pew Research Center shows that TikTok is now the most popular social media app for news among Americans aged 18 to 29, surpassing YouTube and Instagram—the two top choices in 2024.

Reporters noted that the 2025 survey found 43% of young adults say they regularly get news from TikTok, compared with 41% each for YouTube and Facebook, 40% for Instagram, and 21% and 18% respectively for X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit.

Pew’s survey also highlighted that social media dominates news consumption among this age group far more than other formats. Among those aged 18 to 29, 76% say they get news at least occasionally from social media, compared with 60% who use news websites and 28% who rely on email newsletters.

Half of the young respondents surveyed by Pew said they have at least some or a great deal of trust in news content on social media—a level of trust roughly on par with their confidence in national news organizations.

TikTok’s rise as a primary news source is accelerating rapidly. In 2023, only 32% of respondents reported regularly getting news from the video app.

It’s important to note that consuming news on TikTok doesn’t necessarily mean watching videos published by traditional outlets like The Washington Post or NBC News. Young users also regard commentary from news-focused influencers and user-generated content related to current events—such as firsthand footage from conflict zones or protest sites—as legitimate news.

A new wave of independent news influencers has emerged, specializing in current affairs coverage. Notable examples include Philip DeFranco and Wittes “V” Spehar, known for her account “News on the Table.”

Some professional news organizations, including NPR’s Planet Money, have begun adopting similar approaches—centering their video content around specific creators to build stronger trust with audiences. Interviews by Business Insider indicate that Gen Z social media users prefer news creators who deliver information in a more authentic and relatable manner.

Beyond commentary, social media creators and podcasters have also taken on increasingly significant roles in news gathering in recent months. Political figures and government agencies are turning to podcasts and other formats to reach the public; content creators were ubiquitous at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions last year. In 2025, numerous independent creators have already applied for credentials to attend White House press briefings.

TikTok has rolled out several news-related features within its app, including allowing media publishers to add article links to their videos and launching a fact-checking tool called “Footnotes,” which operates similarly to “Community Notes.” According to its official website, TikTok also “collaborates with independent fact-checking organizations in over 130 markets worldwide to verify the accuracy of content on the platform.”

December 30 — According to Business Insider, TikTok has overtaken other social media rivals to become the preferred platform for news among young people in the United States.

The latest survey data from Pew Research Center shows that TikTok is now the most popular social media app for news among Americans aged 18 to 29, surpassing YouTube and Instagram—the two top choices in 2024.

Reporters noted that the 2025 survey found 43% of young adults say they regularly get news from TikTok, compared with 41% each for YouTube and Facebook, 40% for Instagram, and 21% and 18% respectively for X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit.

Pew’s survey also highlighted that social media dominates news consumption among this age group far more than other formats. Among those aged 18 to 29, 76% say they get news at least occasionally from social media, compared with 60% who use news websites and 28% who rely on email newsletters.

Half of the young respondents surveyed by Pew said they have at least some or a great deal of trust in news content on social media—a level of trust roughly on par with their confidence in national news organizations.

TikTok’s rise as a primary news source is accelerating rapidly. In 2023, only 32% of respondents reported regularly getting news from the video app.

It’s important to note that consuming news on TikTok doesn’t necessarily mean watching videos published by traditional outlets like The Washington Post or NBC News. Young users also regard commentary from news-focused influencers and user-generated content related to current events—such as firsthand footage from conflict zones or protest sites—as legitimate news.

A new wave of independent news influencers has emerged, specializing in current affairs coverage. Notable examples include Philip DeFranco and Wittes “V” Spehar, known for her account “News on the Table.”

Some professional news organizations, including NPR’s Planet Money, have begun adopting similar approaches—centering their video content around specific creators to build stronger trust with audiences. Interviews by Business Insider indicate that Gen Z social media users prefer news creators who deliver information in a more authentic and relatable manner.

Beyond commentary, social media creators and podcasters have also taken on increasingly significant roles in news gathering in recent months. Political figures and government agencies are turning to podcasts and other formats to reach the public; content creators were ubiquitous at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions last year. In 2025, numerous independent creators have already applied for credentials to attend White House press briefings.

TikTok has rolled out several news-related features within its app, including allowing media publishers to add article links to their videos and launching a fact-checking tool called “Footnotes,” which operates similarly to “Community Notes.” According to its official website, TikTok also “collaborates with independent fact-checking organizations in over 130 markets worldwide to verify the accuracy of content on the platform.”