As trust in media shifts and digital habits evolve, a new Pew Research Center analysis finds that young adults are leading the way in transforming how Americans engage with the news — and in many ways, how they disengage.
Fewer Americans overall are closely following the news compared to nearly a decade ago. In 2016, just over half of U.S. adults said they followed the news all or most of the time. As of late 2025, that number has dropped to 36%. But the steepest decline is among young adults ages 18 to 29. Just 15% of them now say they follow the news all or most of the time, down from 27% in 2016.
Instead of tuning into traditional platforms like television or radio, younger Americans overwhelmingly get their news through digital means — especially social media. About 93% of adults under 30 say they at least sometimes get news from digital devices. And among those, a clear majority rely on platforms like TikTok and Instagram to learn what’s happening in the world.
That often means the news finds them, not the other way around. While older adults tend to intentionally seek out the news, 70% of young adults say they get political news because they happen to come across it — often while scrolling social media for other content.
Despite lower news engagement overall, young adults are more likely than their elders to trust the news they see on social platforms. In fact, they trust social media sources just as much as national news outlets — a sharp contrast to older Americans, who typically place more faith in traditional journalism. One 28-year-old man told Pew, “I would say I trust Twitter or X the most, because pretty much anyone can post on it … it’s not biased to me.”
This age group also turns to non-traditional figures for information. About 38% of adults under 30 say they regularly get news from influencers — individuals with large social media followings who post about current events or social issues. These influencers are often seen as more relatable or trustworthy than mainstream news outlets.
Young Americans also define journalism differently. While most older adults reserve the term “journalist” for those working in newspapers, TV, or radio, younger people are more likely to apply the label to podcast hosts, newsletter writers, and even social media content creators. Just over half of young adults say they prefer to get news from people they consider journalists, compared to 69% of the oldest adults.
The gap between age groups extends beyond how people get the news — it includes how the news makes them feel. One-third of young adults say the news often makes them feel scared or confused. Some even say they avoid it altogether for their own mental well-being. A 24-year-old woman put it simply: “If I watch too much of the negativity in the news, it affects my mood.”
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