Teenagers in the United States are increasingly turning to social media platforms and online influencers for news, signalling a clear generational shift in how people consume information, according to a new national study.
The survey by the Media Insight Project found that 57 percent of people aged 13 to 17 get news from social media at least once a day, compared with 36 percent of adults.
A similar pattern was seen in reliance on influencers and independent content creators. While 43 percent of adults said they sometimes get information on national issues from such sources, the figure rises to 57 percent among teenagers.
The study, a collaboration between The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, the American Press Institute and journalism schools at Northwestern University and the University of Maryland, highlights the growing influence of nontraditional news sources in teens’ daily lives.
Despite this shift, traditional journalism still holds importance, though trust is evolving. Robyn Tomlin, executive director of the American Press Institute, said audiences, particularly younger ones, are increasingly drawn to creators they perceive as authentic and transparent.
She noted that while national and local news outlets remain trusted, the rise of personal connections with digital creators could significantly shape the future of journalism.
The survey also found teenagers are more likely than adults to use search engines and artificial intelligence tools to access news. Around 40 percent of teens said they get news daily through search, while about 20 percent rely on AI chatbots.
However, television and digital news platforms continue to attract similar levels of audiences across age groups. About four in 10 both adults and teenagers said they watch TV news daily, with a comparable number accessing digital news sites or apps.
Tom Rosenstiel, a journalism professor at the University of Maryland involved in the study, said video-based news remains popular but is evolving in format, with platforms like YouTube offering a different experience from traditional broadcasts.
Despite frequent use of influencers and AI, many teenagers remain cautious about the information they receive. Only 11 percent of teens expressed strong confidence in information from AI chatbots, compared with 4 percent of adults.
Teenagers also showed greater confidence in their ability to identify AI-generated content, with about one-third saying they can clearly distinguish it from human-created material, compared with roughly one in five adults.
Trust in influencers is also limited. Just 12 percent of teenagers said they have a high level of confidence in information from independent creators, though this is still higher than the 6 percent reported by adults.
The study further found that teenagers are more interested in entertainment-related news, including celebrities, music, movies and sports, while adults tend to focus more on politics, business and the economy.
At the same time, both groups are showing signs of news fatigue, especially regarding politics. A majority of respondents said they often or sometimes avoid political news, with around six in 10 saying they steer clear of coverage related to US President Donald Trump.
Rosenstiel said many people are becoming more selective about the news they consume, partly due to a sense of being overwhelmed by current events.
He added that teenagers often seek information differently, showing less interest in avoiding celebrity news or social media content. This suggests that what is considered “important” news may vary widely, posing challenges for traditional journalism in defining its role.