5 facts about Americans and YouTube
Here are five key findings about YouTube from our research to mark its 20th anniversary.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Social Media
No consensus on who comes to mind when Americans are asked to name a news influencer
In an open-ended question, we asked U.S. adults who say they regularly get news from news influencers to name the first one who comes to mind for them.
What we know about TikTok content creators
On TikTok, Americans often follow people who have a strong social media presence. These creator accounts make up about half of all accounts that U.S. users follow.
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Teens and Social Media Fact Sheet
YouTube is the most popular online platform among teens, with roughly nine-in-ten saying they use the site. And more than half of teens report using TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.
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10 facts about teens and social media
Nine-in-ten U.S. teens say they use YouTube. Majorities also use TikTok (63%), Instagram (61%) and Snapchat (55%).
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Republicans and Democrats on X differ over the site’s politics and their experiences
Most X users say their recent experiences using the platform have been mostly positive or neutral.
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Bluesky has caught on with many news influencers, but X remains popular
The share of news influencers in our sample with a Bluesky account roughly doubled in the four months after Election Day 2024, from 21% beforehand to 43% by March.
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Support dips for U.S. government, tech companies restricting false or violent online content
Democrats and Democratic leaners are more likely than Republicans and Republican leaners to support government restrictions on false information online.
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Fewer Americans now support TikTok ban, see the platform as a national security threat than in spring 2023
The share of Americans who perceive TikTok as a national security threat has also dipped – from 59% in 2023 to 49% now.
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How news influencers talked about Trump and Harris during the 2024 election
Most news influencers published posts about both candidates in summer and fall, and identical shares were more critical than supportive of each.
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A closer look at Americans’ experiences with news on TikTok
Many TikTok accounts mix in news with a variety of other topics, from celebrity gossip to jokes and memes.
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8 facts about Americans and TikTok
Americans increasingly have been turning to TikTok – both in general and for news – even as the app faces an uncertain future in the United States.
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Teens, Social Media and Technology 2024
Nearly half of U.S. teens (46%) say they’re on the internet almost constantly. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat remain widely used by teens.
