Facebook, YouTube Still Drive News Habits

Pew Research Center's latest look at social media as a news source finds Facebook and YouTube still on top, even as TikTok and Instagram accelerate. More of the public is encountering headlines inside social feeds, which changes how stories are framed, who gets reach, and how quickly narratives harden.

Overall, 53 percent of adults get at least some news from social media, a level that has held steady in recent years. Thirty-eight percent of U.S. adults regularly get news on Facebook, with YouTube close behind at 36 percent, while TikTok and Instagram are each at 20 percent. 

News reliance inside individual apps is shifting, with Facebook rebounding and TikTok and Instagram becoming core news pipes for younger audiences. That puts more weight on feed mechanics and creator clips, and raises fresh questions about misinformation controls as Facebook moves from third-party fact-checking toward Community Notes. The findings also explain why campaigns and publishers are programming short video news formats where Gen Z and younger millennials already scroll.

Pew’s “Social Media News” update captures usage through 2025, underscoring where audiences will look next for election-year and market-moving updates. The report frames a simple reality: Facebook still shapes broad opinion, while TikTok and Instagram are setting the pace with emerging voters and consumers.

Full story: Pew Research Center