Young audiences are reshaping the American media landscape. In the United States, over half (54%) of 18–24-year-olds now cite social media and video networks as their main source of news, surpassing both television (50%) and news websites or apps (48%) for the first time. Among 18–49-year-olds, only 34% name social or video platforms as their primary news source, and that number drops to just 18% for those aged 55 and older. Meanwhile, 61% of older adults still rely on television.
This generational divide marks a dramatic shift in how Gen Z accesses information, driven less by traditional brand loyalty and more by personality, convenience, and platform-native content. For digital media leaders focused on long-term sustainability, understanding these behaviors is critical to developing meaningful engagement strategies.
Research signals a strategic inflection point
Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2025 offers a detailed look at generational dynamics in news consumption and preferences. The data shows that young Americans increasingly discover news through influencers and podcasters. Twenty-two percent of respondents under 35 reported encountering news via Joe Rogan in the last week. These audiences over-index on video platforms like YouTube and TikTok, where personality-driven content outpaces institutional journalism in both reach and resonance. To address this preference, the report encourages journalists to use their authentic voices to initiate direct engagement through video storytelling on social media platforms.
Creators, not channels
Social platforms now play a central role in Gen Z’s news discovery. Reuters’ report finds that Gen Z consumers in the U.S. are turning toward creators who blend news with humor, commentary, or lifestyle content. Figures like Brian Tyler Cohen and Megyn Kelly attract strong attention from younger audiences and show that Gen Z places trust in personal relevance. Among U.S. 18–24-year-olds, traditional news websites and apps rank fourth in importance behind social video, TV, and podcasts.
This shift is not simply about platform, but about form. Video continues to gain ground as the preferred way of consuming news, particularly among Gen Z. In the U.S., news video consumption is at 72% in 2025 for all U.S. adults from 55% in 2021. Much of this growth happens on third-party platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, not on news websites. Prioritizing video formats that are concise, authentic, and visually native to social platforms is essential to reaching Gen Z. These elements form the core of the Gen Z playbook for tone, pace, and relevance in news consumption.
DCN’s recent research, How Gen Z & Gen Y Are Redefining Video Engagement, reinforces these findings with first-party behavioral data. The study shows that Gen Z strongly prefers video that is purposeful, short-form, and mobile-native—and that attention is earned, not assumed. Their engagement habits mirror the Reuters data: trust, relevance, and entertainment value must converge, particularly on platforms where news must compete with a broad spectrum of content. Together, these reports confirm that journalists who attract younger audiences must match their editorial voice with platform-appropriate formats, both in feed and in mindset.
Podcasts and personal connection
Audio is also proving a powerful entry point. The report shows that 15% of Americans now consume news podcasts weekly. These podcasts increasingly appear as videos, giving publishers a dual-platform opportunity to repurpose content across YouTube and TikTok. For Gen Z, podcasts provide a sense of intimacy and connection, qualities that traditional news outlets often find hard to convey.
AI and news personalization on the rise
Because of the way in which young people seek out news (particularly in the era of AI-agents and search), personalization is becoming a focal point. This isn’t simply about novelty; it’s very much about functionality. The report points out that young audiences respond to tools that help them summarize, translate, and interact with news on their own terms.
Gen Z turns to the news they trust
Despite a fragmented information ecosystem, the report reveals that Gen Z still values accuracy and verification. When asked where they go to check if something might be false, young people are still likely to name trusted news brands, especially public service media. They are less likely to rely on social media, AI chatbots, or peer comments when verifying information. This underscores an important point: trusted brands did not disappear. However, many media brands need to be reintroduced in formats that fit Gen Z’s media habits to become a regular part of their information diet.
Gen Z’s relationship with news reflects a deeper shift in how trust, relevance, and engagement are earned today. Their preferences include short-form video, podcasts, creators, and AI-powered tools. These choices are not a rejection of journalism but a reimagining of how it fits into their lives. This generation still values core principles like accuracy and verification. They simply expect those values to show up in formats that feel personal, accessible, and native to their platforms.