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30% of Americans Get News From Facebook According To Pew Research Poll

An anonymous reader writes "According to a recent Pew Research poll a third of Americans get their news while they 'like' things. 'All in all, then, it may be the very incidental nature of the site that ultimately exposes more people to news there,' Pew said. 'Indeed, the more time one spends on the site, the more likely they are to get news there.'"

5 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. summary says 'ever' by __aaltlg1547 · · Score: 5, Informative

    As in ""Overall, about half of adult Facebook users, or 47 percent, 'ever' get news there," Pew said in its report. "That amounts to 30 percent of the population."

    So if you see a news story on Facebook, once in a while, i.e. often enough to remember that you did it, ever, you're in the 30%. It's a deceptive summary.

    The referenced article goes on to say, "Just 4 percent said Facebook is the most important way they get news"

    Carry on with your silliness.

  2. US news media are a joke by Kohath · · Score: 4, Informative

    Why not get your news from Facebook? Almost every source of news in the US spins and/or censors coverage for someone's political gain. If you're going to hear lies about current events, you might as well hear them from your friends.

    1. Re:US news media are a joke by ArbitraryName · · Score: 5, Informative

      For example: Not one word about the anti-NSA protests in US media. Still.

      Your news gathering skills are....poor to say the least.

      USA Today: Anti-NSA rally attracts thousands to march in Washington http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/26/nsa-dc-rally/3241417/

      Huffington Post: NSA 'Stop Watching Us' Protest Draws Thousands In Washington http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/26/nsa-stop-watching-us_n_4166640.html

      US News and Word Report: Edward Snowden Endorses D.C. Protest Against NSA in Rare Public Statement http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/10/24/edward-snowden-endorses-dc-protest-against-nsa-in-rare-public-statement

      Christian Science Monitor: NSA Washington: March against surveillance and a call from Edward Snowden http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2013/1026/NSA-Washington-March-against-surveillance-and-a-call-from-Edward-Snowden-photos

      CNN: Anti-NSA rally targets Washington http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/26/anti-nsa-rally-targets-washington/

      Fox News: Hundreds rally in DC to protest NSA http://video.foxnews.com/v/2772548586001/hundreds-rally-in-dc-to-protest-nsa/

      NBC News: Hundreds march at anti-NSA rally in DC http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/53383405

      CBS News: Protesters March For Investigation Into Mass NSA Spying http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/10/26/protesters-march-for-investigation-into-mass-nsa-spying/

      ABC News: NSA Spying Threatens to Hamper US Foreign Policy http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/nsa-spying-threatens-hamper-us-foreign-policy-20689770

      Washington Post: Techies concerned over NSA surveillance will march in D.C., proclaiming ‘Stop Watching Us’ http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/techies-concerned-over-nsa-surveillance-will-march-in-dc-proclaiming-stop-watching-us/2013/10/25/5bedb546-3da7-11e3-b7ba-503fb5822c3e_story.html

      This is where I get tired of pasting, but I assure you the list goes on and on.

  3. Re:Explains a lot by ArbitraryName · · Score: 1, Informative

    Including you, apparently. If you had bothered to read the links you would have seen this was a good thing. The report shows that very few people get their news only from Facebook and that seeing news incidentally leads to more engagement from the people who are least likely to seek out news. The fact that people are sharing and discussing news on Facebook leads to an overall higher consumption of news.

  4. Re:Applies to all events? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    This begs the question

    No, it doesn't. It raises the question. "Begging the question" is something else entirely.