Skip to content
Election Overtime Project
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories
White House with "stop" barrier in front

If Trump wins, should Democrats turn over the keys to the White House?

Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs on stage

Luke Combs, politics and healing our nation's divide

Mark Esper sitting next to Donald Trump

What would really happen if Trump wins?

Ducks

The 12 worst House districts: Experts label gerrymandering's dirty dozen

Has TikTok increasingly become a news source for Americans under age 30?

TikTok app logo
picture alliance/Getty Images
Tom Kertscher, Wisconsin Watch
By Tom Kertscher, Wisconsin WatchApr 08, 2024
Tom Kertscher, Wisconsin Watch
See More Writings by author

This fact brief was originally published by Wisconsin Watch. Read the original here. Fact briefs are published by newsrooms in the Gigafact network, and republished by The Fulcrum. Visit Gigafact to learn more.

Has TikTok increasingly become a news source for Americans under age 30?

Yes.

TikTok, the social media platform known for video-sharing, is used for news by an increasing number of Americans under age 30.

About 32% of U.S. adults age 18 to 29 regularly get news from TikTok, up from 9% in 2020, according to a Pew Research Center poll of U.S. adults done Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2023.

Globally, 20% of 18- to 24-year-olds use TikTok for news, according to a June 2023 report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. That’s up from 15% a year earlier.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, who represents northeast Wisconsin, introduced legislation in December 2022 to ban TikTok in the U.S.

On March 11, 2024, the House of Representatives approved a different Gallagher-sponsored bill that would ban “foreign adversary-controlled” TikTok unless its Chinese owners gave up ownership the company.

TikTok said in March 2023 it has 150 million U.S. users.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Pew Research Center More Americans are getting news on TikTok, bucking the trend seen on most other social media sites

Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

Reuters Fewer people trust traditional media, more turn to TikTok for news, report says

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher Gallagher, Rubio Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

US Congress H.R.7521 - Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act

US Congress Summary: H.R.7521 — 118th Congress (2023-2024)

TikTok Celebrating our thriving community of 150 million Americans

Latest news

Elephant and donkey playing tug-of-war over a cliff
Democracy

Whatever happens Nov. 5, democracy will remain in deep trouble

Read More

CNN's John King and the Magic Wall

CNN and other media outlets need to explain the process, not just predict the winner on election night.

YouTube

This election night, the media can better explain how results work

Johnson is the executive director of the Election Reformers Network. Penniman is the founder and CEO of Issue One and author of “Nation on the Take: How Big Money Corrupts Our Democracy and What We Can Do About It.”

Watching election night on cable or network news is a great national tradition. Memorable moments arise as the networks announce their projections in key states. Anchors and commentators demonstrate extraordinary understanding of the unique politics of hundreds of cities and counties across the country. As the results of the most consequential election on the planet unfold, there’s a powerful sense of shared witness.

But our polarized politics has revealed a serious flaw in election night coverage. As disinformation abounds, it is increasingly important for voters to know how the actual, legally certain election results are determined. And right now, voters are not seeing enough of that information on their screens on election night.

Keep ReadingShow less
Michigan ballot box
RobinOlimb/Getty Images

Register for Election Overtime Project briefing for Michigan media

Becvar is co-publisher of The Fulcrum and executive director of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund. Nevins is co-publisher of The Fulcrum and co-founder and board chairman of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund.

The Election Overtime Project, an effort to prepare journalists to cover the outcome of the 2024 election, is hosting its third swing-state briefing on Oct. 25, this time focused on Michigan.

The series is a part of an effort to help reporters, TV anchors and others prepare America to understand and not fear close elections. Election Overtime is an initiative of the Election Reformers Network and developed in partnership with the Bridge Alliance, which publishes The Fulcrum.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump speaking on stage
Jeff Swensen for The Washington Post via Getty Images

The ‘sanewashing’ of Donald Trump

Balta is director of solutions journalism and DEI initiatives for The Fulcrum and a board member of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, the parent organization of The Fulcrum. He is publisher of the Latino News Network and a trainer with the Solutions Journalism Network.

We're just two weeks away from Election Day, and Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are sprinting from state to state in the race to the White House. However, increasing reports suggest Trump has been canceling some of his campaign events, with some critics attributing the decisions to fatigue and concerns about age.

At 78, Trump is the oldest presidential nominee in U.S. history. This adds an interesting dynamic to the campaign, especially considering the narratives he pushed about his previous opponent, President Joe Biden.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sign that erads "LOVE every vote)

A sign fell to the ground outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the central ballot counting facility in Philadelphia, on Nov. 5, 2020.

Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Election experts in Pennsylvania expect quicker results than 2020

Kickols is the communications manager for the Election Reformers Network.

Several election law authorities, elected officials and election administration experts came together recently to discuss potential mail-in ballot counting delays, the challenges of reporting on inaccurate fraud claims, and other election dynamics on the horizon in Pennsylvania. And yet they had a positive message: The Keystone State is well-positioned to count ballots faster this fall.

The discussion took place during an online event with media hosted by the Election Overtime Project, which supports journalists in their coverage of close and contested elections. Election Overtime is an initiative of the Election Reformers Network.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2024