TikTok becomes top news platform for young Americans

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 1 January 2026 | JP Global Monitoring Desk

TikTok has become the leading news platform for Americans aged 18 to 29, reflecting a broader shift toward short-form, creator-led video, reshaping how young audiences discover news.
Summary

WASHINGTON — TikTok has become the leading social media platform for news consumption among young adults in the United States, surpassing YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, according to a 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center.

The survey found that about 43 percent of Americans aged 18 to 29 now regularly get news from TikTok, compared with 41 percent for YouTube and Facebook and 40 percent for Instagram, marking a notable shift in how younger audiences access information.

Shift toward short-form video news

The findings highlight the growing influence of short-form, mobile-first video in shaping news discovery among younger users. TikTok’s algorithm-driven feed and creator-led content have made it a central gateway for news exposure, particularly on breaking events and social issues.

Pew’s data underscores that young adults increasingly encounter news incidentally while scrolling for entertainment, rather than seeking it out through traditional news websites or dedicated apps. This pattern reflects broader changes in attention habits and platform preferences among digital-native audiences.

Challenges and adaptations for legacy media

For legacy news organizations, TikTok’s rise presents both opportunities and challenges. Publishers are under pressure to adapt storytelling formats, experiment with vertical video, and build credibility in environments where news appears alongside entertainment and opinion-driven content.

At the same time, concerns remain about misinformation, context, and source transparency on fast-moving video platforms. Media researchers have noted that while TikTok can expand reach, it requires newsrooms to rethink verification signals and audience trust in a creator-centric ecosystem.

The Pew survey results add to a growing body of research showing that social platforms, rather than search engines or homepages, now dominate news discovery for younger Americans, signaling a long-term transformation in the digital news landscape.

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