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.

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

Publication Title

Information, Communication & Society

DOI

10.1080/1369118X.2025.2496907

Available for download on Sunday, October 25, 2026

Included in

Communication Commons

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