America's News Influencers

Pew Research Center combines a survey of 10,658 U.S. adults with an analysis of 500 news influencers and more than 100,000 social-media posts. It finds that 21 percent of adults regularly get news from influencers, rising to 37 percent among people under 30. Most of the influencers studied have no current or former affiliation with a news organization, and many publish across several platforms while building a direct relationship with their audiences.

The report also shows how this emerging information system is organized. X is the most common platform among the influencers studied, a majority monetize their presence in some form, and politics or civic affairs dominate much of the news-related content. Among people who consume this work, many say it helps them understand current events, illustrating how editorial authority and trust are moving from institutions toward individual personalities and platform networks.