Fact Checking

(Media News) X is the Most Inaccurate News Source Among Social Media Platforms

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A new study by Pew Research reveals that X, formerly known as Twitter, has the most dedicated following of news-seekers among social media platforms.

While most U.S. users on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok do not primarily use these sites for news, X users cite staying informed as a significant reason for their engagement. Approximately half of X’s users report regularly obtaining news from the platform.

According to Pew, Facebook remains the leading social media news source for Americans, with 30% of adults regularly getting news there, compared to Instagram (16%), TikTok (14%), and X (12%).

However, 50% of X users regularly get news on the app, surpassing TikTok (40%), Facebook (37%), and Instagram (30%) in this regard. X also stands out, with 65% of its users naming news as a primary reason for using the platform, compared to 15% of TikTok users, 7% of Facebook users, and 8% of Instagram users.

Following its legacy of real-time news updates, 75% of X users report seeing breaking news in real time, compared to 58% on Facebook, 55% on TikTok, and 44% on Instagram.

The sources of news on these platforms vary significantly. On Instagram and Facebook, “friends and family” are the primary sources of news, whereas on X, this is the least common source. Instead, X users primarily see news from influencers or celebrities (49%), advocacy or nonprofit organizations (46%), other people they don’t know personally (75%), and news outlets and journalists (80%).

Another aspect of Pew’s findings is that X, while having a dedicated base of news-seekers, also has the highest incidence of inaccurate reporting. Among the platforms studied, 86% of X users reported encountering inaccurate news, with 37% saying they see it frequently.

As Meta reduces its news output on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, X under Elon Musk remains a key player in news dissemination.