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Where do people under age 30 get their news from?

The data highlights a strong preference for digital and social media platforms over traditional sources like television, print newspapers, and radio, with significant variations by platform, demographic, and frequency of use. Below, is a detailed breakdown of the statistics, followed by a critical analysis and a full citation list.

1. Pew Research Center (2024) - Social Media and News Fact Sheet

  • Overall Social Media Use for News:

    • 61% of U.S. adults under 30 get news from social media at least sometimes, with 33% doing so regularly (daily or almost daily).

  • Among 18- to 29-year-olds, 50% have at least some trust in information from social media, nearly matching trust in national news outlets (56%).

  • Specific Platforms (Survey conducted July 15–Aug. 4, 2024):

    • YouTube: 33% of U.S. adults (including under 30s) regularly get news from YouTube, with higher usage among younger groups (no specific under-30 percentage provided, but 93% of 18- to 29-year-olds use YouTube overall).

  • Facebook: 33% of U.S. adults regularly get news from Facebook, with 68% of 18- to 29-year-olds using the platform overall.

  • Instagram: 20% of U.S. adults regularly get news from Instagram, with 76% of 18- to 29-year-olds using the platform.

  • TikTok: 17% of U.S. adults regularly get news from TikTok, with 33% of adults under 30 doing so (a sharp rise from 14% in 2020).

  • X (formerly Twitter): 12% of U.S. adults regularly get news from X, with 64% of X news consumers being male and younger (specific under-30 data not isolated).

  • Other Platforms: Smaller shares use Reddit (8%), Snapchat (5%), WhatsApp (5%), LinkedIn (4%), Truth Social (3%), and Rumble (2%) for news.

  • Demographic Variations:

    • News consumers on Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram are predominantly younger, with women making up 62% of TikTok news consumers, 59% of Instagram news consumers, and 60% of Snapchat news consumers.

  • 48% of WhatsApp news consumers are Hispanic, a higher share than other platforms.

  • Source: Pew Research Center. (2024). Social Media and News Fact Sheet. Survey conducted July 15–Aug. 4, 2024.

2. Pew Research Center (2023) - News Platform Fact Sheet

  • Overall News Consumption:

    • Only 41% of adults under 30 get news from television at least sometimes, compared to 85% of adults 65 and older.

  • 86% of U.S. adults (including under 30s) get news from digital devices (smartphones, computers, tablets) at least sometimes, with 70% of 18- to 29-year-olds often getting news online (via news websites/apps or social media).

  • Preferred News Sources:

    • 18% of U.S. adults prefer social media as their primary news source, with younger adults (under 30) more likely to prefer social media than older groups (no specific percentage for under 30s).

  • 23% of U.S. adults prefer news websites or apps, with younger adults (18–29) more likely to use these than TV (27% often get news from TV).

  • Only 5% of 18- to 29-year-olds often get news from print newspapers, compared to 48% of those 65 and older.

  • Source: Pew Research Center. (2023). News Platform Fact Sheet. Survey conducted July 15–Aug. 4, 2024.

3. American Press Institute (2022) - News Consumption Habits of 16- to 40-Year-Olds

  • Frequency and Variety:

    • 79% of Gen Z and Millennials (ages 16–40, including under 30s) get news daily, and 96% get news at least weekly.

  • 43% engage with news daily (e.g., sharing, texting, emailing, or commenting), with 40% discussing news with family and friends daily and 27% engaging with news online or via social media daily.

  • Sources:

    • Social media is a primary news source for 47% of 18- to 34-year-olds (including under 30s), compared to older adults who prefer network news.

  • 25% of Gen Z and Millennials have donated to or become members of nonprofit news sites, independent creators, or public radio/TV, indicating a growing reliance on alternative sources.

  • Paying for News:

    • 28% of Gen Z and Millennials pay for at least one news product (e.g., digital magazines, newspapers, apps), with 18% of Gen Z and 30% of young Millennials paying.

  • Source: American Press Institute. (2022). The News Consumption Habits of 16- to 40-Year-Olds.

4. Reuters Institute Digital News Report (2022)

  • Social Media as Primary Source:

    • 39% of 18- to 24-year-olds across 12 markets use social media as their main news source, compared to 34% who go directly to news websites or apps.

  • Platform Preferences:

    • Among Gen Z (18–24), 57% access news via social media or messaging apps when using smartphones, compared to 39% of those over 35 who go directly to news sites.

  • Facebook and Instagram are popular first destinations for news among Gen Z and Millennials, with Instagram gaining traction.

  • Motivations:

    • Under-35s are more motivated by entertainment and shareability of news than older groups, who prioritize duty or personal usefulness.

  • Source: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. (2022). The Changing News Habits and Attitudes of Younger Audiences.

  • Source: Reuters Institute Digital News Report. (2019). How Younger Generations Consume News Differently.

5. Statista (2022) - News Consumption by Age

  • Social Media Dominance:

    • 47% of 18- to 34-year-olds (including under 30s) use social media for news daily, making it the most popular news platform for this age group.

  • Cable TV:

    • 45% of 18- to 34-year-olds never use cable TV news, compared to older groups who rely on it more frequently.

  • Source: Morning Consult. (2022). Most Popular Platforms for Daily News Consumption in the United States as of August 2022, by Age Group. Statista.

  • Source: Morning Consult. (2022). Frequency of Using Cable News as a Source of News Among Adults in the United States as of August 2022, by Age Group. Statista.

6. Pew Research Center (2020) - Social Media as Primary News Source

  • Primary Source:

    • 18% of U.S. adults rely primarily on social media for news, with 48% of this group being under 30 (Millennials or Gen Z).

  • Knowledge and Engagement:

    • Those relying on social media (predominantly under 30s) are less knowledgeable about political news, the 2020 election, and COVID-19 compared to those using news websites, cable TV, or print. Only 8% of social media-reliant adults closely follow elections, compared to 37% for cable TV users.

  • Source: Pew Research Center. (2020). Americans Who Get News Mainly on Social Media Are Less Knowledgeable and Less Engaged.

7. Pew Research Center (2024) - News Influencers

  • Social Media Influencers:

    • 20% of U.S. adults (including under 30s) regularly get news from social media influencers, with higher usage among younger audiences (specific under-30 data not isolated).

  • Source: Pew Research Center. (2024). About 20% of Americans Get Their News from Social Media Influencers.

8. Reuters Institute Digital News Report (2025)

  • Social Media Overtaking TV:

    • 54% of U.S. adults access news via social media and video networks, surpassing TV (50%) and news websites/apps (48%) for the first time. Among under-35s, 57% use smartphones as their first news source in the morning.

  • Podcasts:

    • 15% of U.S. adults listen to news podcasts weekly, with higher usage among younger adults (specific under-30 data not provided).

  • Source: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. (2025). Digital News Report.

9. NORC at the University of Chicago - The Personal News Cycle

  • Overall Consumption:

    • 60% of adults under 30 get news daily, using an average of four media types weekly (e.g., TV, radio, print, computers, smartphones).

  • Platform Usage:

    • 56% of adults (including under 30s) use cellphones for news, with younger adults more likely to use mobile devices (70% of 18- to 29-year-olds prefer or only use mobile for digital news).

  • Source: NORC at the University of Chicago. The Personal News Cycle: How Americans Get Their News.

10. X Posts (2025) - Sentiment on TikTok

  • TikTok Usage:

    • 39% of adults under 30 regularly get news from TikTok, with fewer than 1% of followed accounts being traditional media outlets.

  • Trust in TikTok:

    • More than a third of young adults trust TikTok for news, often extrapolating facts from memes.

  • Source: Posts on X, 2025.

Critical Analysis

  • Trends:

    • Social Media Dominance: Social media platforms (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) are the primary news sources for under-30s, with 47–57% using them daily or as their main source. TikTok’s rise (33% of under-30s in 2024) reflects a shift toward short-form, algorithm-driven content.

  • Decline of Traditional Media: Only 41% of under-30s use TV for news, and just 5% use print newspapers, compared to 85% and 48% for those 65+. Cable TV is particularly unpopular, with 45% never using it.

  • Engagement and Trust: Younger adults are less engaged with news (e.g., only 8% of social media-reliant under-30s closely follow elections) and show mixed trust levels, with social media nearly matching national news outlets (50% vs. 56%).

  • Alternative Sources: Influencers (20%) and podcasts (15%) are growing sources, reflecting a preference for personalized, non-traditional formats.

  • Demographic Variations:

    • Gender: Women dominate news consumption on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, while men are more likely to use X and Reddit.

  • Ethnicity: Hispanic under-30s show higher use of WhatsApp for news (48% of WhatsApp news consumers).

  • Income: Higher-income under-30s are more likely to pay for news (28% overall, 18% for Gen Z).

  • Motivations:

    • Younger adults value entertainment and shareability, seeking news that is easy to access and authentic. They are less loyal to traditional news brands, preferring algorithm-curated content.

  • Limitations:

    • Data Specificity: Some studies (e.g., Pew 2024) don’t isolate under-30s for every platform, requiring extrapolation from broader 18–34 or 16–40 groups.

  • Self-Reporting Bias: Surveys rely on self-reported data, which may overstate or understate usage due to social desirability or recall errors.

  • Rapid Shifts: The fast-evolving social media landscape (e.g., TikTok’s rise) means older data (e.g., 2016) may not fully reflect current habits.

  • X Posts: Claims like 39% of under-30s using TikTok for news lack primary verification and may reflect sentiment rather than robust data.

  • Concerns:

    • Misinformation: Social media-reliant under-30s are more exposed to misinformation and less knowledgeable about major events, raising concerns about media literacy.

  • Passive Consumption: Many under-30s consume news passively via trending stories rather than actively following news brands, which may limit depth of understanding.

  • Trust Gaps: While trust in social media is rising (50% for under-30s), it remains lower than trust in local news (62%), suggesting a complex relationship with source credibility.

Conclusion

People under 30 primarily get their news from social media platforms, with 47–57% using them daily, led by YouTube (93% overall usage), Instagram (76%), Facebook (68%), and TikTok (33% for news). Only 41% use TV, 5% use print newspapers, and 45% never use cable TV news. Podcasts (15%) and influencers (20%) are emerging sources, reflecting a preference for digital, personalized content. Younger adults prioritize entertainment and accessibility, with less loyalty to traditional news brands. Trust in social media (50%) nearly matches national news outlets (56%), but misinformation and lower engagement remain challenges. These trends highlight a generational shift toward algorithm-driven, mobile-first news consumption.

Full Citation List

  • American Press Institute. (2022). The News Consumption Habits of 16- to 40-Year-Olds.

  • Pew Research Center. (2024). Social Media and News Fact Sheet. Survey conducted July 15–Aug. 4, 2024.

  • Morning Consult. (2022). Most Popular Platforms for Daily News Consumption in the United States as of August 2022, by Age Group. Statista.

  • Pew Research Center. (2023). News Platform Fact Sheet. Survey conducted July 15–Aug. 4, 2024.

  • Pew Research Center. (2016). How Americans Get Their News.

  • American Press Institute. (2014). Social and Demographic Differences in News Habits and Attitudes.

  • Pew Research Center. (2022). U.S. Adults Under 30 Now Trust Information from Social Media Almost as Much as from National News Outlets.

  • Pew Research Center. (2020). Americans Who Get News Mainly on Social Media Are Less Knowledgeable and Less Engaged.

  • Sprout Social. (2025). Social Media Demographics to Inform Your 2025 Strategy.

  • PR Daily. (2023). Where Americans Get Their News: New Data from Pew Research.

  • The Washington Post. (2023). From TV to TikTok, How We Get the News Is Changing Fast.

  • Morning Consult. (2022). Frequency of Using Cable News as a Source of News Among Adults in the United States as of August 2022, by Age Group. Statista.

  • Pew Research Center. (2023). Usage of Television of a News Source in the United States as of October 2023, by Age Group. Statista.

  • Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. (2022). The Changing News Habits and Attitudes of Younger Audiences.

  • Reuters Institute Digital News Report. (2019). How Younger Generations Consume News Differently.

  • NORC at the University of Chicago. The Personal News Cycle: How Americans Get Their News.

  • Pew Research Center. (2024). About 20% of Americans Get Their News from Social Media Influencers.

  • Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. (2025). Digital News Report.

  • Pew Research Center. (2024). U.S. Adults Under 30 Now Trust Information from Social Media Almost as Much as from National News Outlets.

  • Posts on X, 2025.