Social Media Influencers Shape News Consumption for 1 in 5 Americans
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Pew Research Center
A Pew Research Center study explores the role of news influencers on social media, revealing that about 21% of U.S. adults, particularly younger ones, regularly get news from these influencers. The study analyzed 500 influencers across major platforms like X, Instagram, and YouTube, finding that most are men and more identify as right-leaning than left-leaning. Influencers often post about politics, with many lacking formal news organization affiliations. TikTok influencers differ by having a smaller gender gap and more left-leaning views. The study highlights the growing impact of influencers on news consumption.