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Social Media Surpasses Traditional Outlets as Top Global News Source, Report Finds

From Daily Star · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A new report indicates that social media and video platforms have surpassed traditional news outlets as the primary global news source.
  • This shift, with 54% of people using social media for news, poses a threat to traditional media business models and revenues.
  • The report highlights a decline in confidence in traditional media and a low willingness among audiences to pay for online news.

Traditional news outlets are facing an existential threat as consumers increasingly turn to social media and video platforms for information, a new report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism revealed. For the first time, these digital platforms have become the most widely used source of news globally, with 54 percent of respondents in a 48-country survey reporting using them in the week prior.

a significant milestone: for the first time, social media and video network consumption is now ahead of other news sources as the most widely used source of news globally

— Jim EganLead author of the report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, describing the significance of the findings.

The annual report, based on online surveys of nearly 100,000 people, marks a significant milestone, according to lead author Jim Egan. This trend outpaces traditional sources like television news (52 percent), newspaper apps or websites (51 percent), and radio (21 percent). While some countries, particularly in Europe, still see traditional media websites and apps leading, the global average indicates a clear shift, described by Egan as a "drift rather than a shift."

This change has profound implications for the media industry's ability to reach audiences, engage them, and generate revenue. The report found that only 17 percent of respondents pay for online news, while internet giants like Google and Meta dominate the advertising market, often at the expense of traditional media. This financial pressure is compounded by a growing loss of confidence in traditional media, which has reached an all-time low.

It is better to think of this more as a drift rather than a shift, but it is nevertheless an important moment

— Jim EganDescribing the nature of the change in news consumption habits.

Usage patterns also vary across platforms. While users actively seek news on X and YouTube, many encounter news incidentally on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Television remains the primary source only for older demographics (45-54 and over-55s), with younger age groups showing little reliance on traditional media apps or websites as their first news source.

This has obvious implications in terms of prospects for audience reach, engagement, and for monetisation potential

— Jim EganCommenting on the financial and engagement challenges facing traditional media.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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