It is not surprising to hear that many people get their news from online sources–whether it be a website, or social media like Facebook and Instagram. 

According to the Reuters Institute’s 2025 Digital News Report, more Americans now say they get their news from social media and video platforms than from television.

Among 18- to 24-year-olds, more than half say they receive news on platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. 

“This isn’t a new trend; it’s the continuation of one that’s been building for years,” said Samantha Ragland, interim executive director and VP of journalism programs at the American Press Institute. “Younger generations — Gen Z and others — are getting more and more of their news from digital and social channels. They prefer audio and video over print or text. The big question is what will newsrooms do?”

As more and more people turn to digital platforms, it can be difficult to differentiate between what is “real” and what is manipulated or flat-out-false information. 

But we here at the Sullivan County Democrat are not AI–we’re real humans behind the stories, getting you the local news. 

And we’re starting to build up our social media presence so that we can share our stories to a wider audience. 

So we have a favor to ask: give us a follow on Facebook and Instagram. You can easily find our pages by searching our name.

You can also find news, sports, community columns, events and a PDF e-reader version of the entire newspaper on our website, www.scdemocratonline.com. 

We appreciate our print subscribers, and know that you are the backbone of being able to continue printing twice a week. 

As we navigate the changing landscape of digital news, your support means everything to us. Continue to pick up the paper (yes, a real paper you can hold in your hands!) and encourage your millennial and Gen Z family and friends to follow us on social media, and together we can be a thriving ecosystem.