How Americans Access News on Social Media? Top Platforms for Gen Z in 2024

Last updated on September 16th, 2024 at 01:49 pm

Social media is a most common part of modern life. Almost everybody is on social media. It helps people connect, get news, share information, and be entertained in between the days. It’s also a place to share opinions, protest, find jobs, market products, promote brands, watch news, and learn. Content creators can make money from popular posts.

What are the top social media platforms for Gen Z:

Gen Z, or people born from the late 1990s to early 2010s has specific social media preferences. Their taste is different! According to 2023 data from Pew Research Center, the top platforms for Gen Z are:

 YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, WhatsApp, BeReal

Here’s how social media usage breaks down for US adults aged 18-29.

News Consumption on Social Media Platforms

Social media plays a big role in how Americans get their news. A recent survey from the New Research Center shows that people use different platforms for news. According to the data about half of US people get news from social media.

On Facebook and Instagram, most news comes from friends, family, and people they know. On TikTok, news often comes from influencers or unknown sources. On X, news mostly comes from media outlets and journalists.

Even with many sources, people frequently see misleading information. Around a quarter or more of users on each platform often find news that seems wrong.