A large body of research investigates new media use and the influence of new media use. However, the validity of the concept, new media use, is questionable. Using secondary hand data, the current study explores using behaviors of different online information platforms, and the effects of using these platforms. The fndings suggest that the use of news websites is similar to the use of traditional media and far away from social media use, and that the in?uence of using news websites is akin to the in?uence of using traditional media. The heterogeneity of online information platforms is further evidenced by the interaction effect between news websites use and social media use in determining political attitudes.