A new Pew Research study reveals that social media influencers are becoming significant news sources for Americans, particularly among younger audiences, with distinct demographic and political patterns emerging.

21% of U.S. adults and 37% of those under 30 regularly obtain news from social media influencers. The study, which analyzed 500 popular news influencers with at least 100,000 followers across major platforms, found that 63% are men, and there's a slight conservative lean in their political orientation.

Political Distribution:

• 27% right-leaning
• 21% left-leaning
• 48% no clear political orientation

Platform-Specific Findings:

• Facebook shows the strongest conservative presence, with 39% conservative influencers versus 13% liberal
• TikTok demonstrates the most balanced representation:
  • Gender: 45% women, 50% men
  • Political: 28% liberal, 25% conservative

Professional Background: 23% of studied influencers have previous or current employment in the news industry. These individuals typically show less explicit political bias compared to those without traditional journalism experience.

The study defined news influencers as individuals who regularly post about current events and civic issues on social media, maintaining a following of at least 100,000 on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), or YouTube. This includes both traditional journalists and independent content creators, but excludes organizations.

Previous Articles