Evidently studies of X’s demise might be untimely, with the most recent Reuters Institute Digital Information Report exhibiting that X remains to be a key supply of stories and knowledge in lots of areas, regardless of the current adjustments on the app.
Reuters’ digital information consumption report relies on responses from near 100,000 folks throughout 48 nations, with a mean of two,000 respondents from every nation. So it’s a giant pattern measurement, offering perception into key tendencies, which might be largely indicative of the overall recognition of the key information sources.
You’ll be able to obtain the total 171-page report right here, which features a heap extra particular perception into key information engagement tendencies. However on this publish, we’ll dig into the social media parts particularly, and the way X stays a key information supply for a lot of, many customers.
Certainly, in keeping with the info, utilization of X for information has remained steady, or has elevated, throughout many markets.
As you’ll be able to see on this chart, wanting on the U.S. market particularly, right-leaning curiosity has elevated within the app, which is sensible given the conservative push led by the platform’s proprietor and most adopted person Elon Musk.
As per the report:
“Since Elon Musk took over the community in 2022 many extra right-leaning folks, notably younger males, have flocked to the community, whereas some progressive audiences have left or are utilizing it much less steadily. Rival networks like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon are making little impression globally, with attain of two% or much less for information.”
The report says that the U.S. election has re-energized the platform to a point, as extra folks flip to X for information and knowledge.
“Our ballot, which was carried out within the weeks after the inauguration, confirmed that the usage of X for information was 8 factors larger than the earlier yr, reaching nearly 1 / 4 (23%) of the grownup inhabitants.”
In response to the info, X’s utilization for information has elevated within the U.S., Australia, and Poland particularly.
And total, X stays regular as a information supply:

As you’ll be able to see, Fb’s utilization as a information supplier has declined, although it’s now selecting up once more since Meta stopped penalizing information content material. Instagram, Snapchat and Bluesky are additionally rising by way of information curiosity, whereas TikTok continues to achieve extra affect.
“General, a 3rd (33%) of our world pattern use TikTok for any objective and about half of these use the app for information (17%). The quickest development is in Thailand, the place nearly half of our pattern (49%) now makes use of TikTok for information, up 10pp on final yr, however there are will increase in all places, particularly with youthful teams.”

Given the continuing debate across the affect of the Chinese language authorities over TikTok tendencies, that might be a priority, and will result in extra nations taking the U.S. path of in search of to sever the app’s ties with its Chinese language homeland.
Although that hasn’t precisely labored out both, but when the idea is that the CCP is ready to affect TikTok content material, then the app’s rising presence as a information supplier will elevate extra issues in additional areas.
The report additionally seems on the rising affect of influencers as information sources, notably in younger-focused apps.

As you’ll be able to see on this chart, on Snapchat and TikTok, creators now have extra presence as information sources than conventional media shops.
Although which will additionally contribute to, or be impressed by, this aspect:

Increasingly persons are questioning the accuracy of what they see on-line. Which might counsel that influencers, with whom folks have developed a relationship, at the moment are seen as extra reliable in some circumstances than mainstream suppliers, and that would maintain as these youthful customers transfer into older age brackets.
That factors to the necessity for elevated digital literacy, which needs to be a part of each faculty curriculum worldwide. Some nations have already seen nice success in educating skepticism of on-line sources, and this is a crucial life talent within the trendy age.
Particularly in case you’re going to belief X as your key supply of stories.
Many studies have discovered that X permits the amplification of misinformation, with its Group Notes mannequin failing to sluggish the unfold of among the most dangerous, harmful content material.
However it stays a key information supply for a lot of, which might level to a bigger concern.
However then once more, X is not thought-about the worst wrongdoer on this entrance:

Fb and TikTok are seemingly trusted much less total, notably in African nations. Possibly, then, X’s affect is extra concentrated within the Western world, whereas different platforms play a much bigger position in swaying opinion in different areas.
Which might be one other level of concern in TikTok’s development, dpeending on the way you have a look at it.
Both method, some attention-grabbing pattern notes, which give a snapshot of the fashionable media panorama.
You’ll be able to obtain the total Reuters Institute “Digital Information Report 2025” right here.