According to a recent Pew Research Center report, there has been a surge in the number of adult Americans getting news from TikTok, with 17% of them now turning to the platform, compared to just 3% in 2020.
The respondents come from a diverse range of backgrounds, representing various races, genders, education levels, and political affiliations. They were asked questions about how often they consumed news across different mediums, such as television, radio, and digital platforms like smartphones and tablets. The survey also explored how respondents access online news, including their use of social media apps.
TikTok continues to be a prominent platform for younger audiences. According to the survey, as many as 63% of TikTok users are young adults, with 39% of those under 30 regularly turning to the app for news.
However, this usage drops off with age as just 19% of adults aged 30-49 and 9% of those aged 50-64 utilise TikTok for news. Among those who are 65 and older, only 3% reported regularly using the platform for news content.
More users rely on TikTok for news than those on Facebook, although X (formerly Twitter) still leads in this field. The trend shows continued growth, as only 22% of TikTok users sought news on the platform in 2020, rising to 43% in 2023 and now reaching 52% in 2024.
The shifting habits of how consumers access news highlights a growing trend in the digital transformation of media consumption. As more adults, particularly younger generations, turn to platforms like TikTok for their news, brands and businesses can engage consumers in new ways.
In addition to keeping up with the latest news, TikTok has become a go-to platform for discovering new books, authors, and product recommendations, as well as staying updated with the latest trends.