For more than a decade, major social media platforms dominated digital communication in America. Millions of people used them daily to share photos, debate politics, watch videos, follow breaking news, and connect with friends and family. These platforms transformed culture, media, business, and politics at a speed few could have predicted. But something has changed. Across the political spectrum, growing numbers of Americans are becoming frustrated with traditional social media companies....

For generations, Americans viewed major news organizations as trusted gatekeepers of information. Evening broadcasts from legacy television networks and front-page newspaper headlines helped shape public understanding of politics, culture, economics, and world events. Journalists were often regarded as neutral observers whose responsibility was to inform the public honestly and accurately. That trust has eroded dramatically. Recent polls consistently show that confidence in mainstream media...