
Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-25-2025
Abstract
This study examined how social media influencers (SMIs) affected news media trust in the U.S. SMI followers reported more trust than non-followers even as they reported high levels of trust in influencers. This includes trust in information from the news media as well trust in various media practices. Trust in SMI news content also improved media trust among followers and non-followers. Contrary to prior research, social media news trust did not reduce news media trust, but rather, improved it. Likewise, Conservative ideology only reduced news media trust among non-followers, with no effect among SMI followers. Overall, interacting with SMI news content did not reduce news media trust. Data suggest that SMIs play a complementary and supportive role regarding news media trust.
Recommended Citation
Wasike, Ben. "Influencing the news: how social media influencers affect news media trust." Information, Communication & Society (2025): 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2025.2496907
Publication Title
Information, Communication & Society
DOI
10.1080/1369118X.2025.2496907
Comments
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Information, Communication and Society (ICS) on April 25, 2025, available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2025.2496907