U.S. adults under 30 now trust information from social media almost as much as from national news outlets
Half of 18- to 29-year-olds say they have at least some trust in the information they get from social media sites.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Half of 18- to 29-year-olds say they have at least some trust in the information they get from social media sites.
In just five years, the percentage of Republicans with at least some trust in national news organizations has been cut in half.
Americans’ trust in media varies widely by political party and whether they see the outlet in question as part of the “mainstream media.”
A survey of nearly 12,000 working U.S.-based journalists found that the beats American journalists cover vary widely by gender and other factors.
When Americans were asked to evaluate the media’s standing in the nation, 41% say news organizations are growing in their influence.
The social media sites that journalists use most frequently for their jobs differ from those that the public turns to for news.
A majority (82%) say there are times when it is acceptable for journalists to use anonymous sources, with 67% saying it is acceptable only in special cases.
About eight-in-ten Americans (79%) say news organizations tend to favor one side when presenting the news on political and social issues.
Americans’ confidence in checking COVID-19 information aligns closely with their confidence in checking the accuracy of news stories broadly.
59% of Americans think news organizations do not understand people like them, while a minority – 37% – say they do feel understood.
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