More than half of adults now get their news from social media, with the trend even more pronounced among younger generations — three in four young people encounter news through social platforms, and 57% of children aged 12 to 15 identify TikTok as their primary news source, according to new research. The shift marks a move away from traditional broadcasters and newspapers toward what researchers call "boutique media" — personality-driven creators including podcasters, newsletter writers, and news influencers, whose authority rests more on emotional connection with audiences than on professional journalistic credentials. Experts warn that this transformation raises serious concerns about misinformation and news trustworthiness, and are calling for a broader public conversation about treating quality journalism as a shared good worth paying for.