In a fragmented media atmosphere with seemingly countless sources of knowledge to select from, People’ information habits have modified dramatically within the twenty first century. As we speak, an amazing majority of People get information no less than typically from digital gadgets. This truth sheet appears to be like on the platforms People flip to for information, together with patterns and traits.
A big majority of U.S. adults (86%) say they no less than typically get information from a smartphone, pc or pill, together with 57% who say they achieve this typically. These figures are virtually equivalent to the share who acquired information from digital gadgets in 2023.
Digital gadgets are by far the commonest approach People get information, though a majority (63%) get information from tv no less than typically. The portion of People who typically get information from TV has stayed pretty regular over the previous few years, now standing at 33%.
People flip to radio and print publications for information far much less regularly. In 2024, simply 26% of U.S. adults say they typically or typically get information in print, the bottom quantity our surveys have recorded.
When requested which of those platforms they desire to get information on, 58% of People say they like a digital machine, far increased than the share preferring TV (32%). Comparatively few People desire radio (6%) or print (4%).
Information platform preferences
% of U.S. adults who desire ____ for getting information
Supply: Survey of U.S. adults performed July 15-Aug. 4, 2024.
Notice: “Digital gadgets” embody smartphones, computer systems and tablets.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Information platform preferences
% of U.S. adults who desire ____ for getting information
12 months | Digital gadgets | Tv | Radio | Print publications |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | 58% | 32% | 6% | 4% |
2023 | 58 | 27 | 6 | 5 |
2022 | 53 | 33 | 7 | 5 |
2021 | 50 | 36 | 7 | 5 |
2020 | 52 | 35 | 7 | 5 |
Supply: Survey of U.S. adults performed July 15-Aug. 4, 2024.
Notice: “Digital gadgets” embody smartphones, computer systems and tablets.
There are a number of totally different pathways People use to get information on their digital gadgets. Information web sites or apps and engines like google are the commonest: About two-thirds of U.S. adults no less than typically get information in every of those methods. A little bit greater than half (54%) no less than typically get information from social media, and 27% say the identical about podcasts.
Information web sites or apps are additionally essentially the most most well-liked supply for information. A couple of quarter of U.S. adults (23%) say they like to get their information this manner, in contrast with 18% preferring social media, 12% preferring search and 5% preferring podcasts. The share of People preferring social media has elevated by 6 proportion factors since 2023.
Learn extra about how People get information on social media.
Digital information platform preferences
% of U.S. adults who desire ___ for getting information
Supply: Survey of U.S. adults performed July 15-Aug. 4, 2024.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Digital information platform preferences
% of U.S. adults who desire ___ for getting information
12 months | Search | Information web sites | Social media | Podcasts |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | 12% | 23% | 18% | 5% |
2023 | 15 | 25 | 12 | 6 |
2022 | 12 | 23 | 13 | 4 |
2021 | 11 | 24 | 10 | 4 |
2020 | 12 | 26 | 11 | 3 |
Supply: Survey of U.S. adults performed July 15-Aug. 4, 2024.
Information consumption throughout platforms varies by age, gender, race, ethnicity, academic attainment and political leaning. For instance, People ages 50 and older are extra possible than youthful adults to show to tv and print publications for information – and fewer possible to make use of digital sources like social media or podcasts.
% of U.S. adults in every demographic group who get information no less than typically from …
Tv | Radio | Print publications |
Digital gadgets | |
Whole | 63% | 42% | 26% | 86% |
Males | 61 | 42 | 25 | 86 |
Girls | 66 | 42 | 27 | 85 |
Ages 18-29 | 46 | 27 | 18 | 91 |
30-49 | 51 | 43 | 19 | 91 |
50-64 | 72 | 51 | 26 | 87 |
65+ | 86 | 43 | 43 | 70 |
White | 65 | 44 | 28 | 86 |
Black | 75 | 43 | 26 | 83 |
Hispanic | 60 | 38 | 21 | 85 |
Asian* | 47 | 25 | 18 | 91 |
Highschool or much less | 69 | 42 | 26 | 77 |
Some faculty | 63 | 42 | 24 | 89 |
School+ | 57 | 42 | 28 | 92 |
Rep/Lean Rep | 65 | 46 | 24 | 86 |
Dem/Lean Dem | 63 | 39 | 29 | 87 |
% of U.S. adults in every demographic group who get information no less than typically from …
Information web sites or apps |
Social media | Search | Podcasts | |
Whole | 66% | 54% | 66% | 27% |
Males | 68 | 49 | 65 | 30 |
Girls | 64 | 59 | 66 | 24 |
Ages 18-29 | 62 | 78 | 74 | 34 |
30-49 | 70 | 64 | 70 | 34 |
50-64 | 71 | 45 | 65 | 23 |
65+ | 56 | 28 | 53 | 14 |
White | 66 | 49 | 64 | 25 |
Black | 64 | 58 | 70 | 29 |
Hispanic | 64 | 67 | 65 | 31 |
Asian* | 69 | 65 | 73 | 30 |
Highschool or much less | 55 | 54 | 60 | 22 |
Some faculty | 66 | 57 | 68 | 27 |
School+ | 76 | 52 | 69 | 32 |
Rep/Lean Rep | 64 | 55 | 65 | 28 |
Dem/Lean Dem | 70 | 55 | 68 | 27 |
% of U.S. adults in every demographic group who desire ___ for getting information
Tv | Radio | Print publications |
Digital gadgets | |
Whole | 32% | 6% | 4% | 58% |
Males | 29 | 6 | 4 | 60 |
Girls | 34 | 5 | 4 | 56 |
Ages 18-29 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 86 |
30-49 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 72 |
50-64 | 42 | 8 | 3 | 46 |
65+ | 60 | 5 | 8 | 27 |
White | 33 | 7 | 5 | 55 |
Black | 43 | 3 | 3 | 50 |
Hispanic | 27 | 3 | 3 | 66 |
Asian* | 14 | 3 | 2 | 79 |
Highschool or much less | 41 | 5 | 4 | 49 |
Some faculty | 32 | 5 | 3 | 59 |
School+ | 21 | 6 | 5 | 67 |
Rep/Lean Rep | 32 | 7 | 3 | 57 |
Dem/Lean Dem | 30 | 5 | 5 | 59 |
% of U.S. adults in every demographic group who desire ___ for getting information
Information web sites or apps |
Social media | Search | Podcasts | |
Whole | 23% | 18% | 12% | 5% |
Males | 25 | 17 | 12 | 6 |
Girls | 20 | 19 | 13 | 3 |
Ages 18-29 | 19 | 43 | 17 | 6 |
30-49 | 27 | 22 | 16 | 7 |
50-64 | 26 | 7 | 10 | 3 |
65+ | 17 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
White | 25 | 14 | 11 | 5 |
Black | 15 | 20 | 12 | 3 |
Hispanic | 18 | 31 | 13 | 4 |
Asian* | 30 | 27 | 16 | 6 |
Highschool or much less | 13 | 19 | 12 | 4 |
Some faculty | 21 | 19 | 14 | 5 |
School + | 34 | 16 | 11 | 6 |
Rep/Lean Rep | 21 | 18 | 13 | 6 |
Dem/Lean Dem | 26 | 18 | 11 | 4 |
This truth sheet was compiled by Analysis Assistant Christopher St. Aubin and Analysis Analyst Jacob Liedke.
Learn the methodology and the topline.
Pew Analysis Heart is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its main funder. That is the most recent evaluation in Pew Analysis Heart’s ongoing investigation of the state of stories, data and journalism within the digital age, a analysis program funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, with beneficiant help from the John S. and James L. Knight Basis.
Observe these hyperlinks for extra in-depth evaluation of stories consumption:
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CORRECTION (Oct. 16, 2024): The topline for this survey beforehand included incorrect figures (check with topline for particulars). These have been up to date within the topline and don’t have an effect on the general findings on this evaluation. Nothing on this web page has been modified.