In today’s time, more than 50 percent of people are relying on social media for news content. The reason could be the increasing number of social media platforms and influencers or citizen journalists that provide news over the internet. Social Media’s popularity is indeed seen to be increasing as it is available to people all over the world. The importance and need for a true and accurate news source are increasing. Here comes the role of fact-checking platforms, mainly News APIs.
We can also see the growth of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube as news sources. But this shift from traditional media to social media for news consumption has brought up several questions.
The questions are about speed vs accuracy? Social media vs traditional media? Reliability vs engagement? Can we solely rely upon social media for news consumption?
Let’s discuss how social media can act as a news source and its benefits. We will talk about the reliability of traditional news media, comparing it with social media, based on a few studies. Also, highlighting the importance of verified News APIs as a fact-checking tool.
Social Media as a News Source – The 2025 Landscape
Social media is becoming an increasingly powerful tool in the news and entertainment industry. Audiences’ choices have shifted from traditional news methods to complete reliance on the internet. Technologies like artificial intelligence are acting as an interface for sharing news and information. However, if we look back in time, over just two decades, the popularity of short video platforms has increased significantly.
Let us discuss some of the effects of rising social media as a news source.
Rise of Social Media News Consumption
The short-form news videos showcase precise and to-the-point content, providing a summary of the news in just a few seconds. Today’s audience is more interested in quick and hook kind of content that saves time and is available to them in just a click. Social Media is a platform that fulfils these News consumption requirements.
Platforms Driving the Shift
Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts are rising more due to the preferences of the younger audience, mostly millennials, and Gen Zs. Influencers and creators are leading the trend with short-form news and content.
Why Users Prefer Social Media Over Traditional News
There are several reasons that audiences prefer social media over traditional news methods, and some of them are:
- Accessibility: The short-form news content is easily available and accessible with the help of the internet and portable smart devices.
- Speed: The internet works faster and you can quickly access to latest updated news in real time.
- Engagement: The content is short, visually appealing, and to the point, which keeps the viewers on the hook.
Benefits of Social Media News
Social Media is a popular medium of communication in today’s scenario, and people are using these platforms for their convenience. There are several benefits of social media as a news platform.
Speed of Breaking News
The internet and social media are faster medium of information exchange compared to any other traditional medium, such as television or print media. You can get any information or the latest news in real-time with social media.
Personalization Through Algorithms
Social media algorithms curate content based on user interests, making preferred content, such as news, more relevant. Users can engage with that more often.
Accessibility for Regional & Local News
Another benefit of social media is its ability to provide a platform for regional and community-driven news, allowing people to easily access content from their specific region or locality.
Fake News on Social Media
We see a vast amount of content on social media, which would definitely take a lifetime to view everything. But is everything available on the internet true?
Let us discuss the rise of fake news on social media.
Misinformation & Fake News
Several profiles or accounts provide news and information on social media. It is one of the biggest challenges of using social media as a news source. There can be a spread of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news quickly. Rumors are the most common type of example of fake news on social media.
Popularity on social media platforms depends upon numerous factors, like the number of likes, comments, shares, and how much the content can be engaging. People believe that any related information that confirms their existing beliefs is true on social media. Many social media users scroll quickly through their feeds and share content without taking the time to verify its accuracy.
Although several people intentionally spread fake news or disinformation. They fabricate such information to deceive and cause harm or defame, often for political and financial gain. People can be influenced easily as they believe whatever the internet shows them. Even today, a normal user is unable to dissonate between the traditional medium of news and social media.
This is the main cause of spreading misinformation and rumors. Viewers get more curious to know about any controversial news as it engages more mysteries or interests. However, many platforms empower users to report fake or misleading content.
Social Media vs Traditional News Media
Social Media is reshaping the ways of information consumption, but traditional media has still maintained its spot clearly. Newspapers and television are still more reliable than any of the social media. If we look at the studies, only the younger generation resonates more with social media. People are still trusting news channels and print media firms more.
Let us compare both platforms.
Accuracy vs Speed
When it comes to speed, it is very obvious that social media has a win, but if we talk about accuracy, traditional news is trusted more. Social media can not be solely relied on as a news source when it comes to accuracy, as fake news on social media is a common concern.
Traditional media prioritizes credibility over immediacy and provides fact-checked information. Journalists are trained to verify sources, cross-check facts, and publish any news only after editorial reviews.
Newspapers & Television VS Influencers & Citizen Journalists
Traditional Media platforms work under strict guidelines and media laws. Newspaper firms or media houses are accountable for accuracy, journalistic ethics, and guidelines. They are responsible for public trust and the credibility of the news.
Whereas social media influencers and citizen journalists do not follow such guidelines, as they are not associated with any organization or authority. They bring diverse perspectives on ant news topic and may also give personal views. Though many influencers try to give credible information, but prioritize user engagement more than that.
Surveys and Studies:
Studies show that television media is more trusted than social media for any news information. There can be several factors why social media is less trusted, like information overload or widespread misinformation. On the other hand, television is more authentic and connected with established institutions or organizations.
But if we look from the audience and people’s point of view, they are more likely to be reliable for any information on social media. There can be reasons for this preference towards social media, like it is available anywhere or anytime.
Let us take a look at a few studies and surveys we collected from various sources.
STUDY 1:
- During the studies done by the Reuters Institute, based on a survey of 48 countries, social media as in news consumption is more than traditional media. The majority of news consumers are younger groups who get their news from social media and video platforms.
- Older audiences (55+) are more likely to still rely on traditional and established media, including linear TV and newspapers a or news websites/apps.
STUDY 2:
Research by the Pew Research Center claims that digital media sources have become an important part of Americans. Particularly, young adults are more reliant on social media. Overall, just over half of U.S. adults (54%) say they at least sometimes get news from social media.
Source: PewSearch
Role of News APIs in Combating Misinformation
News API is a platform that connects you with thousands of trusted news sources around the world. You can access millions of news articles all at once.
But how can a News API be a combating tool against misinformation? Let us discuss.
As we know, News APIs have emerged as a transformative tool for the news industry and media in several ways. They provide the latest news in real-time from multiple trusted sources and platforms. You will get structured news content with categories, region-specific, multiple languages, and source credibility. The feeds are always verified and filtered, providing only trusted information.
How NewsData.io Helps:
NewsData.io is a News API that is one of the most trusted and helpful platforms for news integration. It provides news articles from around 84,000+ news sources, supporting multiple languages and regions. Along with this, you can experience several features at affordable pricing plans. News APIs like NewsData.io are acting as gatekeepers in the digital news ecosystem.
Here’s how NewsData.io combats misinformation:
- Aggregates news from globally recognized and trusted news sources. You can get headlines and full coverage of news content.
- Real-time news delivery, stay updated with the latest news articles and updates.
- Also, get historical news data from the past 7 years, with various filters and parameters.
- Talking about the features NewsData.io provides, you can get everything you need with filters, sentiment analysis, AI content, AI summaries, AI tags, and much more to explore.
Conclusion
Social Media is undeniably a popular source of information; it is easily accessible and fast. But social media can not be the only medium of news information exchange and reliable. Audiences must consume news content that is reliable and fact-checked. Several fact-checking tools and techniques can be helpful for users to consume only truthful information.
In the age of digitalization, social media can become a powerful and fast source of news and information in the future. But some factors will be necessary for its empowerment, like the publication of factual information, and providing news that is verified with credible data providers like NewsData.io.
Aditi Chaudhary is an enthusiastic content writer at Newsdata.io, where she covers topics related to real-time news, News APIs, data-driven journalism, and emerging trends in media and technology. Aditi is passionate about storytelling, research, and creating content that informs and inspires. As a student of Journalism and Mass Communication with a strong interest in the evolving landscape of digital media, she aims to merge her creativity with credibility to expand her knowledge and bring innovation into every piece she creates.
