A World Under the Influence

With the rise of social media, influencers around the world have increasingly taken on the role of newscaster without a traditional media organization behind them. Some say it has democratized journalism, but with the rise of misinformation, influencers who capture massive audiences online also run the risk of spreading false or even harmful information. How much have influencers altered the media landscape?

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Host
  • Gabrielle Sierra
    Director, Podcasting
Credits

Molly McAnany - Associate Podcast Producer

Markus Zakaria - Audio Producer and Sound Designer

Asher Ross - Supervising Producer

Episode Guests
  • Renée DiResta
    Technical Research Manager, Stanford Internet Observatory
  • Nic Newman
    Senior Research Associate, Reuters Institute
  • Michael Spikes
    Lecturer and Director of Teach for Chicago Journalism Program, Northwestern University

Show Notes

Most U.S. adults under thirty years of age trust information from social media as much as they would a national news outlet. As a result, influencers gathering millions of views online have a tremendous effect on the news being consumed and spread around the world. Many say that it has democratized journalism, allowing more people to be informed more quickly and from a more diverse set of voices. But as misinformation and disinformation campaigns permeate social media platforms, experts are beginning to raise alarm about what’s at risk if influencers become the public’s dominant news source.

 

From CFR

 

Combating Online Misinformation,” CFR Events

 

Influence Immunity and Addressing Misinformation,” CFR Events

 

From Our Guests

 

Nic Newman, Digital News Report 2024, Reuters Institute

 

Renee DiResta, “The New Media Goliaths,” NOEMA Magazine

 

Renee DiResta, “How Online Mobs Act Like Flocks of Birds,” NOEMA Magazine 

 

Read More

 

Elisa Shearer, Sarah Naseer, Jacob Liedke, and Katerina Eva Matsa, “How Americans Get News on TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram,” Pew Research Center

 

Watch and Listen

 

A Look At How Political Campaigns Use Social Media Influencers, CBS News


The Rise of News Influencers: What Journalists Must Learn, International Journalism Festival

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