Social Media Overtakes TV as Top Political News Source
A Syracuse University survey of 1,001 adults found social platforms now lead traditional television and newsrooms as sources of political information.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Media
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Social media has overtaken traditional TV news as the most-cited source of political news, according to a Syracuse University Center for the Creator Economy report. The survey found 55% of adults turn to social media for political information.
Why it matters
The shift signals a major change in how Americans encounter political information, with independent creators and platforms now rivaling established news organizations. It raises questions about where voters are getting political information and how accuracy is maintained across these sources.
Social platforms and independent outlets were cited by 60% of respondents, compared with 32% for traditional newsrooms. YouTube led individual sources at 16.5%, narrowly ahead of broadcast and cable TV at 16.1%, though the survey does not detail sampling methodology.
The players
Syracuse University
A private research university in Syracuse, New York, whose Center for the Creator Economy conducted the survey.
The details
Respondents to the survey of 1,001 adults were asked to name their sources of political and election news. Of those surveyed, 59% said they regularly get news from social media, and 61% said they trust a well-known independent news creator as much as a well-known professional journalist or major news organization on political topics.
Timeline
October 31, 2026: Syracuse University's Center for the Creator Economy publishes findings showing social media overtaking TV news as the top political source.
Industry Dynamics
The finding extends a multi-year shift in which independent creators and platforms have gained ground against legacy broadcasters as political news sources. Its placement within the Center for the Creator Economy's recurring Flash Report makes it part of a tracked trend rather than a one-off result.
Americans who rely on social platforms for political news now encounter a mix of creator content, platform feeds, and newsroom reporting in the same spaces. Readers should note that the 86% of respondents who said public corrections raise their trust suggests correction practices are a key factor in which sources audiences rely on.
The takeaway
Checking whether a political claim is corrected publicly is one practical way to judge a source, since most respondents said corrections raise their trust. Comparing a claim across more than one outlet, whatever its format, helps readers weigh its reliability.
Further reading
For more on how audiences are shifting across platforms, see the Media section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New York Post.
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