1. THE AFFECT OF DIGITAL DEVICES
AND SOCIAL MEDIA ON NEWS
CONSUMPTION
Kristen Comeaux and Jana Rainer

2. DIGITAL DEVICE OWNERSHIP

3. HOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS NEWS
CONSUMPTION
 Most people think that digital devices will make people use
less news, but it’s the opposite.
 Rather than replacing news consumption on digital devices,
such as a laptops or tablets, those using mobile devices are
getting news on all digital devices.
 8 in 10 who get news on smartphones or tablets, get news on
conventional computers as well.

4. HOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS NEWS
CONSUMPTION

5. HOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS NEWS
CONSUMPTION
 These adults also appear to be:
 Getting news more often
 Reading for longer periods of time
 People are taking advantage of having easier access
to news throughout the day
 In their pocket
 On their desks
 In their laps.

6. SUMMARY: HOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
AFFECTS NEWS CONSUMPTION

7. SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE
 Percentage of adults who use:
36% Facebook
51% Twitter
Non-users
13%

8. HOW SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECTS NEWS
CONSUMPTION
 Facebook leads Twitter in intersection of social
media and news.
 In 2011, Facebook added the Social Reader,
which allows users to follow, read and share
news without ever leaving the network.

9. HOW SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECTS NEWS
CONSUMPTION
 Facebook users get news from:
 Friends
 Family
 Twitter users get news from
a wider variety of sources.

10. HOW SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECTS NEWS
CONSUMPTION
 Social media news consumers have not given
up other methods of getting news such as:
 Going directly to websites
 Using apps
 Through search.
 Social media is an additional path to
news, not a replacement for traditional ones.

11. HOW SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECTS NEWS
CONSUMPTION

12. CONSUMPTION OF NEWS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
THROUGH DIFFERENT DEVICES
 There is no bias when it comes to using different devices.

13. SUMMARY: HOW SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECTS
NEWS CONSUMPTION
 Despite the explosion of social media,
such as Facebook and Twitter, social
media and recommendations from
friends are not the main factors
determining news consumption.
 Adults are still using conventional
means such as news sites and search
to acquire their news.