More than half of Americans now consider social media an important way to stay informed, according to a new Pew Research Center report published Oct. 23. The survey of more than 3,500 U.S. adults, conducted in June, found that 58% see social platforms as a key connection to current events.
A Sharp Rise Since 2022
The figure is up from 43% in Pew’s 2022 survey. Even more striking, 13% of Americans now call social media their single most important news source, compared with just 5% four years ago. Based on a U.S. adult population of roughly 270 million, that suggests around 35 million people depend mainly on social apps to keep up with events.
The findings highlight the growing influence of platforms over how the voting public learns about major developments, and over which narratives gain traction.
Moderation Under the Spotlight
The rise has intensified debate over who should set the rules for online speech. Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022 partly over concerns that its management was manipulating what gained visibility. In December, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced State Department action against individuals accused of pressuring American platforms to censor certain viewpoints.
Meta has also shifted course. In January 2025, Mark Zuckerberg announced the company’s move away from fact-checking, and Meta relaxed rules on topics including immigration and gender identity.
Critics note that this sits uneasily with Zuckerberg’s own 2021 argument that unchecked networks see people engage disproportionately with sensationalist content, which can deepen polarization. Because algorithms tend to reward engagement, the most controversial conversations often get the widest reach.
As more Americans turn to social feeds for information, the question of how much responsibility platforms should bear for what spreads is only becoming harder to avoid.