It was found that approximately 20 percent of US citizens regularly get their news from “news influencers” on social media.
Pew Research Center reported the results of its survey of more than 10 thousand US adults and analysis of posts shared by social media influencers.
The study examined accounts run by people with more than 100,000 followers on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or TikTok who regularly post and talk about current events, including on podcasts and newsletters.
The report found that nearly 20 percent of US citizens, or 1 in 5 Americans, regularly get their news from “news influencers” on social media.
Most of these people have no connection or history with any media organization.
Media analysts worry influencers could fuel misinformation
85 percent of influencers who share news content on social media have a presence on X. However, many of them also have pages on other social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
On the other hand, media analysts in the United States have long been concerned about how influencers, many of whom are not required to adhere to editorial standards, could fuel misinformation and even be used by the United States’ enemies to produce content to suit their own interests.
