# Social media is the top source Americans use for local government news

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/social-media-is-the-top-source-americans-use-for-local-government-news/

> Indexed question in Politics.

## Reading

More Americans get news about their local government from social media than from any other source; 55% use it, according to a Verasight survey conducted April 9-15, 2025.

Television newscasts follow close behind at 49%, with roughly a third turning to friends and family (33%) or a local newspaper (32%). Radio newscasts trail at 16%, and about one-in-ten (9%) use none of these sources.

## Topline

Which of the following sources do you use to get news about your local government (county commission, city council, etc.)?

Social media is the top source Americans use for local government news.

Respondents could select more than one option, so shares may sum to more than 100%.

- Social media: 55.1%
- TV newscast: 48.9%
- Friends and family: 33.0%
- Local newspaper: 31.6%
- Radio newscast: 16.5%
- None of these: 9.0%
- Other (please specify):: 4.7%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2025-04-09 → 2025-04-15
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.5%
- Module: society
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#sources-of-news-about-local-government](https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#sources-of-news-about-local-government)

## Citation

Verasight MPSA Omnibus Survey #2025-026, fielded April 9-15, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.

Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#sources-of-news-about-local-government](https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#sources-of-news-about-local-government)