Jun 26th 2025
AI-generated, human-reviewed.
In a striking revelation that has sent ripples through media circles, social media has officially surpassed television as America's top news source for the first time. This groundbreaking shift, revealed in Oxford's Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism's 2025 Digital News Report, raises critical questions about the quality of information Americans consume and the future of democratic discourse.
The Numbers Don't Lie: A Global Phenomenon
The Reuters Institute's comprehensive survey of 100,000 people across 48 countries paints a clear picture of the media landscape's transformation. Norway leads the charge, with 76% of its population using social media for news, followed by the UK, Germany, and the United States at 60%. This isn't just an American phenomenon; it's a global shift that's reshaping how societies consume and process information.
Leo Laporte, host of This Week in Tech, couldn't hide his concern: "This is horrible, this is terrible." His reaction reflects growing anxieties about the implications of this seismic shift in news consumption patterns.
The AI Slop Problem: When Algorithms Feed Misinformation
One of the most alarming aspects of this trend is what tech expert Padre (Father Robert Ballecer) calls "AI slop," AI-generated content with text-to-speech narration and fabricated images, often scraped directly from Reddit. Padre shared his experience of using family controls to block this content from his parents' YouTube accounts, noting how "wildly inaccurate" information was being treated as authoritative.
This phenomenon highlights a fundamental problem with social media as a news source: the lack of editorial oversight and fact-checking that traditional media outlets, despite their flaws, still maintain.
The Echo Chamber Effect: When Platforms Become Political Battlegrounds
Perhaps nowhere is the polarization of social media more evident than in the experiences shared by venture capitalist Jason Calacanis. He described the stark divide between platforms:
X (formerly Twitter): "Super right wing, conspiracy theory free-for-all," where Calacanis had to implement a $3 monthly subscription fee to manage toxic replies.
Bluesky and Threads: Left-leaning platforms where users actively push out those perceived as having conservative connections.
Calacanis's experience illustrates what he calls the "horseshoe theory," where extreme positions on both sides of the political spectrum begin to mirror each other in their intolerance and hostility toward opposing viewpoints.
The problem extends beyond partisan bickering. As Leo Laporte pointed out, social media algorithms create filter bubbles that serve users "news that confirms your bias." This algorithmic curation means people aren't just choosing their news sources; their worldview is actively reinforced by AI systems designed to maximize engagement, not accuracy or balance.
The discussion naturally turned to tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, with participants debating whether his recent political pivots represent genuine conviction or strategic positioning. Jason Calacanis offered a cynical but perhaps realistic assessment: "Trust me, if Kamala had won, he would have been singing Kumbaya and drinking soy milk lattes."
This "weathervane" behavior among tech leaders raises questions about the stability and reliability of the platforms that now serve as primary news sources for millions of Americans.
The TikTok Conundrum: National Security Meets Social Media
The ongoing TikTok saga is a perfect case study of the intersection between social media, news consumption, and national security. Calacanis argued that China's refusal to sell TikTok's algorithm reveals its strategic importance: "If this wasn't a strategic asset for the Chinese, then it would have been sold a long time ago."
With Trump extending the TikTok ban for another 90 days, the platform's future remains uncertain, but its influence on American news consumption and political discourse continues unabated.
The Healthcare Parallel: Self-Reliance in an Unreliable System
Interestingly, the conversation drew parallels between social media news consumption and healthcare, with Calacanis advocating for "radical self-reliance" in both areas. Just as people are turning to services like Superpower.com for health monitoring, individuals are increasingly curating their news sources rather than relying on traditional gatekeepers.
However, this trend toward self-reliance raises concerns about equity and accessibility. As Amanda Silberling pointed out, such approaches require privilege: the time, resources, and education to evaluate and curate information sources effectively.
What This Means for Democracy
The shift from television to social media as America's primary news source represents more than a technological change; it's a fundamental transformation of how democratic societies share information and form consensus. The implications are profound:
Quality Control: Traditional media, despite its flaws, maintains editorial standards that social media platforms largely lackShared Reality: When people consume entirely different sets of "facts," democratic discourse becomes nearly impossibleManipulation Vulnerability: Social media's algorithmic nature makes it easier for both domestic and foreign actors to influence public opinionThe Path Forward
While the challenges are significant, the panelists offered some hope. Jason Calacanis's "72-hour rule" (waiting to see if Trump's controversial statements remain relevant after three days) provides a practical approach to navigating volatile news cycles. Meanwhile, Padre's emphasis on protecting those who can't navigate complex information ecosystems reminds us that solutions must be inclusive.
The key may lie in combining social media's accessibility and engagement with traditional journalism's accountability and standards. Some emerging platforms and services attempt this balance, but the transition remains chaotic and uncertain.
Listen to the Full Discussion
This blog post only scratches the surface of the rich, nuanced discussion from This Week in Tech episode 1037. The whole conversation includes deeper dives into various perspectives on AI, the role of cyberattacks in the Iran-Israel war, and much more.
Don't miss out on the complete conversation! Listen to the full episode of This Week in Tech wherever you get your podcasts.
Share: Copied! This Week in Tech #1037Jun 22 2025 - Teach Amanda Fish
AI Backlash All Tech posts Contact Advertise CC License Privacy Policy Ad Choices TOS Store Twitter Facebook Instgram YouTube Yes, like every site on the Internet, this site uses cookies. So now you know. Learn more Hide Home Schedule Subscribe Club TWiT About Club TWiT FAQ Access Account Members-Only Podcasts Update Payment Method Connect to Discord TWiT Blog Recent Posts Advertise Sponsors Store People About What is TWiT.tv Tickets Developer Program and API Tip jar Partners Contact Us