News Consumption On TikTok Soaring Among Americans: Is It Concerning?

 

Unlike on other social media platforms, where news consumption has either remained stable or fallen, a growing proportion of US consumers say they routinely acquire news on the website. The share has more than doubled in three years, rising from 3% in 2020 to 14% in 2023.

The conclusion is part of a new Pew Research Centre poll of Americans, which comes as the short-form video sharing app, controlled by China’s ByteDance, is being scrutinized by lawmakers over its ties to Beijing and the security of user data.

TikTok has grown in popularity, particularly among teenagers and young adults. Those aged 18 to 29 are the most likely to say they get news from the app on a regular basis. This age group’s percentage continues at 32%, compared to 15% of those aged 30 to 49, 7% of those aged 50 to 64, and 3% of those aged 65 and above.

However, according to a Pew Research Centre survey conducted in July, approximately 59% of Americans consider TikTok to be a big or medium threat to national security in the United States. Only 17% of respondents thought the site did not jeopardize national security, while the remaining 23% are unsure.