US News Consumers Shift to Rogan, AI, Social Media

Following the January 2025 U.S. presidential inauguration, more Americans reported getting their news from social and video networks than from traditional TV and news websites, marking a historic shift according to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism's annual Digital News Report. This trend is especially pronounced among young Americans, with over half of those under 35 relying primarily on these digital platforms for news. Prominent podcasters such as Joe Rogan, who reached one-fifth of surveyed Americans, along with former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson and others like Megyn Kelly and Candace Owens on the right, and Brian Tyler Cohen and David Pakman on the left, have become influential news sources. These online personalities attract audiences that traditional media struggles to reach, particularly young men, right-leaning viewers, and those with low trust in mainstream outlets. Despite their popularity, online influencers are also viewed as major sources of misinformation, alongside politicians, with over 70% of Americans concerned about discerning truth from falsehood in online news. Additionally, AI chatbots are emerging as news sources, especially among those under 25, further contributing to the evolving news consumption landscape.