Pew Research TikTok: What the Data Says About Social Media and Public Opinion

When you think about Pew Research, a nonpartisan fact tank that studies public attitudes, media, and technology trends. Also known as Pew Research Center, it's the go-to source for hard numbers on how Americans—and increasingly, people worldwide—use tech like TikTok, a short-form video platform that’s reshaping how news spreads and young people form opinions. It's not just entertainment—it's a major force in shaping what people believe.

Pew Research has tracked TikTok’s rise from a dancing app to a news hub, especially among under-30s. Their data shows nearly 60% of Gen Z gets some news from TikTok, often before traditional outlets report it. That’s not because they don’t trust newspapers—it’s because TikTok feels faster, more real, and more personal. The platform’s algorithm doesn’t just show cats or dance challenges; it surfaces protests, political debates, and even public health alerts. And when Pew dug into who’s sharing what, they found a surprising split: users who follow news creators are more likely to know facts about elections or climate change than those who only watch memes. But here’s the catch—those same users are also more likely to be exposed to misinformation if they don’t know how to spot it.

What does this mean for you? If you’re on TikTok, you’re already part of a media ecosystem that Pew Research has spent years mapping. Their reports show that TikTok users are more diverse in race and income than users of Twitter or Facebook. They’re also more likely to engage with content from strangers—making it a powerful tool for grassroots movements and also a risky one for false narratives. Pew’s findings also reveal that while 71% of U.S. adults say they’ve heard of TikTok, only 38% use it regularly. But among teens? That number jumps to 84%. That’s not a trend—it’s a shift. And it’s changing how politics, health, and even local issues get discussed. You can’t ignore TikTok anymore, not if you want to understand what people really think.

Pew Research doesn’t just count users—it asks why they watch, what they trust, and how it changes their views. Their work connects TikTok to bigger questions: Is social media making us more polarized? Are young people better informed or just louder? And who’s responsible when a viral video spreads a lie? These aren’t abstract debates. They’re grounded in surveys of over 10,000 people, tested across months and years. The data doesn’t lie. And it’s right here in the posts below—stories about how TikTok is changing news, how algorithms shape belief, and why traditional media is scrambling to keep up. What you’ll find isn’t speculation. It’s what the numbers say about the world you’re already living in.