The survey also probed non-Twitter social media users about why they don’t use the social network for news. People offered a range of answers, with no one standing far above any other.

Perhaps the most striking result is that these are news consumers who feel they get sufficient news elsewhere. Indeed, the largest number of non-Twitter news users (59%) cited a preference for traditional news sources such as newspaper, TV and radio as the reason they aren’t using Twitter as a news delivery platform.

Beyond that, however, no particular reason stood out as to why people don’t use Twitter as a means of discovering news. The next two reasons cited fall into the category probably of being unsure or unfamiliar. About half of these non-Twitter news users (51%) cited a more general sense that “Twitter is not for me.” Just under half (46%) of non-Twitter users said they aren’t sure what Twitter would provide them. Similarly, about as many (45%) cited concern about knowing what is real and what is made up.

A roughly similar number (44%) said they thought Twitter would be made up of “people talking about inane details in their lives.” One in 5 (20%) said they lack the time.

Data Source: Question: Thinking about the way in which you follow news stories in general, which of the following statements best describe why you wouldn't use Twitter as a source of news? Please select all that apply. (Base: Non-Twitter Users N=469)

American Press Institute, DB5 and Twitter