A new study conducted by students in Southern’s JRN 300: News Writing course found that social media is the dominant source of news for today’s college students.
The April 2025 survey of 116 Southern undergraduates revealed that nearly two-thirds (about 65%) get their news primarily through platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). The findings were published in the Hartford Courant through the Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative, a statewide network linking college journalism programs with professional media outlets.
“I get my news from TikTok because it’s easily accessible and I’m usually always on it,” said senior psychology major Nilah Cicero in the story, which explored how algorithm-driven feeds shape the way students discover information.
Students reported being drawn to news that appears passively in their social media feeds, often from influencers and aggregators rather than traditional outlets. That shift, noted CNN reporter Michelle Watson, raises questions about confirmation bias and media literacy in the digital age.
The Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative is supported by journalism departments at colleges and universities across the state and aims to provide a pipeline between student journalists and professional newsrooms.
Read the full story at the Hartford Courant.
