Our media landscape has reached a transformational tipping point – and is now barreling past it.
Streaming has surpassed traditional TV. Social media is now a primary news source for millions, especially younger audiences. And trust in mainstream media continues to fall.
These trends had a profound impact in the last election and transcend politics—they’re fundamental disruptions that affect every communicator trying to reach, engage, and persuade an audience in 2025.
We’ve synthesized our latest data with public sources to map how audiences are consuming information today—and what that means for how communication strategies need to evolve.
Some of the key takeaways:
- Platforms like YouTube are changing the meaning of “TV.”
- Social media platforms like TikTok are changing the nature of news, giving independent creators a platform on level with major media organizations.
- Streaming has taken over even “live” cable TV, and podcasts are now prime political platforms.
- Younger audiences are increasingly turning to platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for information—especially when it comes to current events.
Perhaps the most important shift: audiences aren’t necessarily seeking news—it’s finding them.
This analysis is the beginning of a broader conversation about what communicators must do to keep up. From message design to channel strategy, staying effective in this fractured, fast-moving landscape requires adapting—fast.