Report Finds That X Remains a Key News Source for Many
It seems that reports of X's demise could be premature, with the latest Reuters Institute Digital News Report showing that X is still a key source of news and information in many regions, despite the recent changes at the app.
Reuters' digital news consumption report is based on responses from close to 100,000 people across 48 countries, with an average of 2,000 respondents from each nation. So it's a big sample size, providing insight into key trends, which would be largely indicative of the general popularity of the major news sources.
You can download the full 171-page report here, which includes a heap more specific insight into key news engagement trends. But in this post, we'll dig into the social media elements specifically, and how X remains a key news source for many, many users.
Indeed, according to the data, usage of X for news has remained stable, or has increased, across many markets.
As you can see in this chart, looking at the U.S. market specifically, right-leaning interest has increased in the app, which makes sense given the conservative push led by the platform's owner and most followed user Elon Musk.
As per the report:
'Since Elon Musk took over the network in 2022 many more right-leaning people, notably young men, have flocked to the network, while some progressive audiences have left or are using it less frequently. Rival networks like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon are making little impact globally, with reach of 2% or less for news.'
The report says that the U.S. election has re-energized the platform to some degree, as more people turn to X for news and information.
'Our poll, which was conducted in the weeks after the inauguration, showed that the use of X for news was 8 points higher than the previous year, reaching almost a quarter (23%) of the adult population.'
According to the data, X's usage for news has increased in the U.S., Australia, and Poland specifically.
And overall, X remains steady as a news source:
As you can see, Facebook's usage as a news provider has declined, though it is now picking up again since Meta stopped penalizing news content. Instagram, Snapchat and Bluesky are also rising in terms of news interest, while TikTok continues to gain more influence.
'Overall, a third (33%) of our global sample use TikTok for any purpose and about half of those use the app for news (17%). The fastest growth is in Thailand, where almost half of our sample (49%) now uses TikTok for news, up 10pp on last year, but there are increases everywhere, especially with younger groups.'
Given the ongoing debate around the influence of the Chinese government over TikTok trends, that could be a concern, and could lead to more nations taking the U.S. path of seeking to sever the app's ties with its Chinese homeland.
Though that hasn't exactly worked out either, but if the belief is that the CCP is able to influence TikTok content, then the app's rising presence as a news provider will raise more concerns in more regions.
The report also looks at the rising influence of influencers as news sources, particularly in younger-focused apps.
As you can see in this chart, on Snapchat and TikTok, creators now have more presence as news resources than traditional media outlets.
Though that may also contribute to, or be inspired by, this element:
More and more people are questioning the accuracy of what they see online. Which could suggest that influencers, with whom people have developed a relationship, are now seen as more trustworthy in some cases than mainstream providers, and that could hold as these younger users move into older age brackets.
That points to the need for increased digital literacy, which should be part of every school curriculum worldwide. Some nations have already seen great success in teaching skepticism of online sources, and this is an important life skill in the modern age.
Especially if you're going to trust X as your key source of news.
Many reports have found that X enables the amplification of misinformation, with its Community Notes model failing to slow the spread of some of the most harmful, dangerous content.
But it remains a key news source for many, which could point to a larger concern.
But then again, X isn't considered the worst culprit on this front:
Facebook and TikTok are seemingly trusted less overall, particularly in African nations. Maybe, then, X's influence is more concentrated in the Western world, while other platforms play a bigger role in swaying opinion in other regions.
Which could be another point of concern in TikTok's growth, dpeending on how you look at it.
Either way, some interesting trend notes, which provide a snapshot of the modern media landscape.
You can download the full Reuters Institute 'Digital News Report 2025' here.
Recommended Reading
Emojipedia Shares Most Used Emojis of 2023 for World Emoji Day
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gizmodo
27 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
After Years of Promises, Tesla Says Its Cheaper Car Is Actually on the Way
For nearly a decade, it has been the holy grail for Tesla fans and the key to its mainstream future: a truly affordable electric car for the masses. After years of promises, delays, and speculation, the company confirmed on Wednesday that the long-awaited cheaper Tesla is finally moving from myth to reality. In its Q2 2025 earnings release, Tesla stated, 'We continue to expand our vehicle offering, including first builds of a more affordable model in June, with volume production planned for the second half of 2025.' This is the most concrete evidence to date that what many have dubbed the 'Model 2' is in production. The confirmation sent a ripple of excitement through the market, suggesting Tesla is finally making good on a promise that dates back to Elon Musk's original 'Master Plan,' written in 2006. The so-called 'Model 2' has long been rumored as a smaller, mass-market vehicle for customers priced out of Tesla's current lineup. Speculation—never confirmed by Tesla—pegs its price at around $25,000, compared to the Model 3, the company's cheapest car, which starts at $42,500. However, the excitement was quickly tempered by the complex reality of Tesla's current business challenges. During the company's earnings call, CFO Vaibhav Taneja revealed that the rollout will be slower than initially hoped. The reason? A strategic choice to prioritize a last-minute sales blitz of its more expensive models before the $7,500 federal EV tax credit expires on September 30th. 'We started the production of the lower-cost model as planned in the first half of 2025,' Taneja told analysts. 'However, given our focus on building and delivering as many vehicles as possible in reverse, before the EV credit expires and the additional complexity of ramping a new product, the ramp will happen next quarter slower than initially expected.' Elon Musk provided a slightly more optimistic, if still distant, timeline, telling analysts, 'We'll be running with the more affordable models available for everyone in Q4.' He also sought to reassure investors that affordability would not come at the expense of profitability. 'The goal with those products was not to negatively impact revenue or gross margin, but just to make a car that everyone loves and wants at a more affordable price,' Musk said. Many Tesla fans were disappointed and quickly voiced their frustration on X, Musk's social platform. 'I don't understand why they are delaying it. Could they not initially sell it in other countries. Then it would show people in the US they can get a better car in Q3 for the same/better price as the cheaper car in Q4,' one user said. I don't understand why they are delaying it. Could they not initially sell it in other countries. Then it would show people in the US they can get a better car in Q3 for the same/better price as the cheaper car in Q4. — Craig Mouser (@mouser58907) July 24, 2025For a long time, Tesla's enormous market capitalization was based in part on the fact that the carmaker would produce a car that millions of people could afford. Last year, Musk suggested that Tesla had shelved its plans for an affordable model. The arrival of a cheaper Tesla could be a game-changer, unlocking a vast new market of buyers who have been priced out of the EV revolution. A successful launch could help Tesla combat slowing sales and increasing competition from Chinese automakers who have flooded the market with low-cost EVs. But major questions remain. While the company has not revealed official pricing or specifications, Musk offered a clue about the car's identity during the call, seemingly putting an end to years of 'Model 2' speculation. When asked about the new model, Musk quipped, 'It's just a Model Y. Let the cat out of the bag there.' This suggests the affordable car will be a simplified or stripped-down version of its best-selling SUV, rather than an entirely new vehicle built on a different platform. It's a more affordable take on the company's best-seller. 'I bet it uses the same body with scaled back features,' said Gene Munster, analyst at Deep Water Management. 'This is just like Apple does with the iPhone. But if it really looks just like the Y, it will cannibalize the Y. I have to think more about that trade off.' Musk says the new affordable model will 'look just like the Model Y.' My take: I bet it uses the same body with scaled back features. This is just like Apple does with the iPhone. But if it really looks just like the Y, it will cannibalize the Y. I have to think more about that… — Gene Munster (@munster_gene) July 23, 2025Still, the 'slower ramp' means that by the time this cheaper Model Y is available in significant numbers, the federal tax credit that could have made it even more affordable will be long gone. For Tesla, the stakes are enormous. Delivering a successful, profitable, mass-market vehicle would fulfill a core part of its founding mission. But after years of waiting, the company must now prove it can execute on its most important promise yet, all while navigating a more challenging and competitive landscape than ever before.
The Hill
27 minutes ago
- The Hill
Lutnick: TikTok will go dark unless China agrees to US control
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick warned Thursday that TikTok will go dark unless China agrees to a deal in which American owners take control of the popular social media app and its algorithm. 'It's got to come out of Chinese control,' Lutnick told CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street.' 'We've made the decision. You can't have Chinese control and have something on a hundred million American phones. That's just not okay.' 'So, if it's in American control, China can have a little piece, or ByteDance, the current owner, can keep a little piece,' he continued. 'But basically Americans will have control, Americans will own the technology and Americans will control the algorithm.' TikTok has remained online for the past seven months despite a law requiring its parent company ByteDance to divest from the app or face a U.S. ban. The law, passed by Congress last year, was meant to go into effect the day before President Trump took office. However, former President Biden declined to enforce the law in his final days in office, and Trump quickly followed this up with an executive order delaying enforcement. He has since given TikTok two more extensions, as he attempts to strike a deal to keep the app available. The next deadline is set for Sept. 17. Trump said late last month that he had found a buyer for the app, which he described as 'very, very wealthy people.' However, he underscored the deal would likely require the approval of the Chinese government. 'If that deal gets approved by the Chinese, then that deal will happen,' Lutnick added Thursday. 'If they don't approve it, then TikTok is going to go dark. And those decisions are coming very soon. …. The deal is over to them right now.' The Trump administration had previously finalized a deal on TikTok in April, but the effort was scuttled by the announcement of the president's 'reciprocal' tariff regime, which targeted China and other countries with hefty new import taxes.
Boston Globe
27 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Soft power delivers big returns, but Trump is slashing it anyway
Studies in many countries show that spending on diplomacy, cultural engagement, and humanitarian relief generates a huge economic return on investment —at least six times greater than the dollars invested. Advertisement The European Union's Creative Europe program produced three to four times the amount invested in cultural diplomacy. Advertisement The United States has not measured its soft power directly, but there is no doubt that it boosts its image by providing humanitarian and disaster aid. In 2003, the United States spent $400 million to help Indonesia recover from the massive tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Public approval of the United States in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, Today, the United States is turning away from such opportunities. What may look like savings through layoffs and grant rescissions will in fact cost billions in lost trade, weakened alliances, and diminished global influence. In nearly every other policy domain — whether approving a medicine, a public safety regulation, or building new infrastructure — government decisions are informed by cost-benefit analysis. No such analysis has been performed here. If cost-benefit thinking were applied to soft power, it would be clear that the benefits of soft power far outweigh the costs. Advertisement The concept is well understood in the private sector. Businesses spend heavily to acquire 'goodwill' — brand value, reputation, and customer trust. Such intangible assets drive future profits and provide protection against commercial competitors. Governments should treat soft power the same way: as a hedge that reduces economic and military conflict. When nations trust America and see us as a partner rather than a threat, they are far less likely to take hostile actions that would require costly military responses. Soft power investments provide a double dividend that pays off in both economic gains and reduced defense spending. The full value of America's global engagement may only become evident once it is withdrawn. The Trump administration is working hard to achieve this end. The Trump administration has laid off government scientists, educators, and health experts, including last week's As the United States slashes its soft power budget,China is scaling up. The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative has committed more than $1 trillion in infrastructure spending. Chinese-funded rail projects in Malaysia, Advertisement The dollar 'savings' that Thune crowed about amount to less than the cost of a single F-35 fighter jet. But a fighter jet can't help refugees, teach Afghan girls to read, or persuade African leaders to choose American over Chinese technology. As Nye pointed out, soft power is easy to squander and difficult to recover. The cuts, combined with the Trump administration's sustained assault on the nation's leading universities, represent a colossal soft power miscalculation. They will cost America global influence that no amount of military spending can replace.
