There were many initial takeaways from the 2024 results. New emerging coalitions, rightward shifts of key demographics and regions, and changing patterns of news consumption are just some of the items to be studied for future campaigns. President Donald Trump improved his performance among young voters by about ten points from 2020. While a number of factors are likely responsible for this shift, news consumption may be part of it. A study from the Pew Research Center found that 37% of U.S. adults under the age of 30 get their news from influencers versus traditional news outlets.
By The Numbers:
About 21% of Americans say they regularly get news from influencers on social media. Of those, more adults under 30 (37%) get their news from influencers.
About the same number of Republicans and Democrats (21% to 22%, respectively) get their news from news influencers.
Most Americans (65%) who get their news from news influencers on social media say the influencers helped them understand current issues and events.
The Bottom Line: Between news influencers, podcasts, and direct engagement, the Trump campaign tapped into a fresh stream of news and information this year. Democrats will try tapping into this more aggressively, but Republicans would be wise to stay a step ahead in the ever-evolving world of news consumption.
