86% of Americans Get News Online—Is Your Local Government Keeping Up?

Do you know that nearly 86% of Americans get their news online, a 4% increase compared to last year?

In recent times, fewer Americans are using traditional news sources like local newspapers, television, and radio. Adults getting news from these sources have decreased significantly, with newspaper readership dropping from 41% in 2018 to 32% this year, radio from 8% to 9%, and print from 13% to 9%.

More Americans now prefer getting local news online, with 26% using news websites and 23% using social media. Since 2018, there has been an 11% increase in adults turning to online sources for their news.

The evolution in local news consumption shows nearly half of Americans now prefer digital media, indicating higher expectations for receiving news online. From 2018 to 2024, there has been a 14% increase in adults getting news from online forums, Facebook groups, local websites and blogs, news aggregator apps, Instagram accounts, and social media.

While some still prefer newspapers and television, many now favor these sources' online platforms. Word of mouth remains a common way to get local news, but social media has significantly boosted this type of news sharing.

This underscores the importance of a strong online presence for local governments to share news and create awareness about community events. Social media is not only for disseminating news; many local governments also use it for staffing and enrollment.

In the USA, 26.2% of local governments have been using social media for over 10 years to communicate with their citizens.

"It's how we communicate because everyone’s on social media at this point," said Natalie Bednarz, digital communications supervisor at the City of Orlando, Florida. "It has become the voice of the city."

This highlights the urgency for every local government to maintain an active online presence through social media. Local governments are the backbone of every community, and their voice should be loud enough to reach all community members and receive their input.

Here are some of the best ways local governments can leverage social media.

Real-Time Updates and Alerts: Use social media to provide real-time updates on emergencies, weather alerts, road closures, and other critical information. This ensures citizens are promptly informed and can take necessary actions.

Community Engagement and Feedback: Create interactive posts, polls, and Q&A sessions to engage with citizens directly. This fosters a sense of community and allows local governments to gather valuable feedback and insights.

Promote Local Events and Initiatives: Share information about local events, community programs, and government initiatives. Use social media to highlight the positive impact of these events and encourage community participation.

Educational content and transparency: Use social media to educate citizens about local government processes, policies, and decisions. Providing transparent information builds trust and keeps the community informed about governance matters.

By effectively utilizing social media, local governments can enhance communication, improve citizen satisfaction, and strengthen community engagement.