Newsletter
Gen-Z might argue that Facebook is a bygone social media platform. However, it remains the most popular social media platform even in 2023, according to a Statista report. Although Meta decided to discontinue payments to news publishers on Facebook News Tab, it remains the go-to source for news in the U.S.
Every 3 out of 10 U.S. adults read news from Facebook
Despite the rise of other social media platforms, Facebook remains the most popular source of news among adults in the U.S. Over 30% of users regularly consume news on the platform, per Pew Research.
YouTube follows closely behind with 26% of users, while Instagram secures third place with 16%. While not as widely used for news, TikTok, X, and Reddit still play a role in informing the US population, with 14%, 12%, and 8% of users, respectively.
Although, the percentage of users getting news from Facebook has declined from 54% in 2020 to 43% in 2023. It still remains the most popular social media platform for news consumption.
TikTok has experienced a surge in news consumption, with 43% of users now turning to the app for news, up from 22% three years ago. Among all the social networks surveyed, X (formerly, Twitter) has the highest percentage of users (53%) who go to the website for news.
Men mostly read news from Reddit; women prefer Nextdoor
The study reveals a gender divide in social media news consumption. It notes that Men primarily use Reddit, X, and YouTube for news. Meanwhile, women prefer Nextdoor, Facebook, and Instagram. Despite the decreasing reliance on social media for news, a significant portion still uses social media for daily news. And with great power, comes great responsibility.
That’s why social media companies must remain vigilant in combating the spread of misinformation, even if their focus shifts away from news delivery. Social media has previously been accused of spreading misinformation in the past, especially during times of conflict or global tension. These accusations have focused on social media’s role in promoting fabricated reports and undermining public trust.