Findings: A growing number of U.S. adults, particularly young adults, are regularly getting news from TikTok. The share of adults regularly turning to TikTok for news has increased dramatically, growing fivefold from 3% in 2020 to 17% in 2024. Among TikTok users, 52% now report using the platform to get news, a significant rise from 22% in 2020.
Key Takeaway: TikTok has become a prominent news source, particularly for younger audiences. The platform is now more commonly used for news consumption than Facebook, and its growth in this area outpaces other social media platforms.
Trend: There is a clear upward trend in using TikTok as a regular news source, with its popularity surging more quickly than that of other platforms in the U.S.
Consumer Motivation: Young adults, who are the primary demographic of TikTok, are motivated by the platform’s convenience and format. TikTok's short-form video content aligns with how younger audiences prefer to consume news—visually engaging and easily digestible.
What is Driving the Trend: The growing use of social media for news consumption, the platform’s user-friendly interface, and TikTok's popularity with younger generations are driving the trend. The shift toward video-based news content and the declining trust in traditional media also contribute to this change.
Who are the People the Article is Referring To: The article focuses on TikTok users, particularly younger adults (under 30), who are the most frequent consumers of news on the platform. It also mentions older age groups (30-49, 50-64, and 65+) who are less likely to get their news from TikTok.
Description of Consumer Product or Service: The service referred to in the article is TikTok, a short-form video-sharing social media platform, where a growing number of users now access news. TikTok users are primarily young adults and teens, but an increasing share of older users is also using the platform for news.
Conclusions: TikTok has rapidly grown into a significant news source for young adults in the U.S. This shift highlights a transformation in how people consume information, with social media platforms, particularly TikTok, taking over traditional news sources for many younger users.
Implications:
Implications for Brands: Brands, especially those in the media and content creation industries, need to adapt to this trend by creating engaging, short-form news content that appeals to TikTok’s audience. They should consider using the platform to reach younger consumers who may not engage with traditional news outlets.
Implications for Society: This shift raises concerns about the quality and reliability of news consumed on TikTok, as it is primarily an entertainment platform. The reliance on TikTok for news by younger generations may influence how they perceive important social, political, and cultural issues.
Implications for Consumers: Consumers, especially younger ones, may prioritize visually engaging, easily digestible content over in-depth reporting. This shift could lead to a change in how news is presented and consumed, with potential consequences for public knowledge and discourse.
Implications for the Future: As more young adults turn to TikTok for news, traditional media outlets may need to adjust their strategies to remain relevant. There may also be a need for improved content moderation and fact-checking on TikTok to ensure that users receive accurate and reliable information.
Trends:
Consumer Trend: There is an increasing trend of younger audiences using social media platforms, specifically TikTok, to consume news in a visually engaging, short-form format.
Consumer Sub-Trend: The decline of traditional news sources, such as newspapers and television, among younger demographics is driving more reliance on social media for news.
Big Social Trend: The growing reliance on social media for news consumption is transforming the information landscape, influencing how people understand and engage with current events and global issues. This shift has major implications for media literacy and public trust in information sources.
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