Americans’ Complicated Relationship With News
Most say being informed is essential for voting. Yet views differ on the importance of following news – and many say they’re worn out by it.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Read our research on:
Journalism
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Video: How do young adults get their news?
Young adults under 30 are getting more news on social media, shaping how information spreads and giving us a possible glimpse into the future of news.
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Striking findings from 2025
Here’s a look back at 2025 through 12 of our most striking research findings.
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Americans are following the news less closely than they used to
In 2016, 51% of U.S. adults said they followed the news all or most of the time, but that share fell to 36% in 2025.
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Young Adults and the Future of News
U.S. adults under 30 follow news less closely than any other age group. And they’re more likely to get (and trust) news from social media.
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When Americans say they get news from TV, what do they mean?
Among TV news consumers, 57% say that their news mostly comes from cable, satellite or broadcast television. 34% say it mostly comes from streaming services.
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More Americans prefer to watch the news than read or listen to it
A majority of Americans who prefer to watch the news (62%) say they prefer to get it from TV, rather than another platform.
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News Influencers Fact Sheet
About one-in-five U.S. adults say they regularly get news from news influencers on social media, and this is especially common among younger adults.
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How Americans’ trust in information from news organizations and social media sites has changed over time
Overall, 56% of U.S. adults now say they have a lot of or some trust in the information they get from national news organizations – down 11 percentage points since March 2025.
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Many Americans say they often come across inaccurate news – and have a hard time knowing what’s true
Those who report often encountering inaccurate news are more likely than those who rarely or never do to say it’s hard to know what is true (59% vs. 31%).
