Pew Study: 20% of Americans, 37% Under 30, Get News from Influencers on X

Nov 18, 2024, 03:51 PM

A recent Pew Research Center study reveals that 20% of U.S. adults regularly get their news from social media influencers, with the figure rising to 37% among those under 30. These influencers, defined as creators with over 100,000 followers, have become significant news sources, particularly on platforms like X, where 85% of them are active. The study also highlights a political skew, with 27% of influencers identifying as right-wing. Notably, 77% of these influencers have no formal ties to traditional news outlets, and 63% are male. The reliance on influencers for news has raised concerns about the spread of misinformation due to the lack of journalistic training among these figures, with 55% of their content focused on politics and elections.