Digital news consumption shifts toward social media as trust declines

The landscape of news consumption is shifting toward social media and digital platforms, according to findings discussed by the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD). Based on the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2026, which surveyed 100,000 people across 48 countries, 54% of respondents access news via social media, surpassing the 52% who use television.

This shift is accompanied by a decline in media trust, with global confidence in news reaching lows of approximately 32%, and in some markets, as low as 16%. Generational gaps are prominent, as 52% of individuals aged 18 to 24 seek news on social media, while only 18% use television. These trends highlight a need to redesign journalism education to include skills in video, streaming, content creation, and artificial intelligence.

In Colombia, MinTIC is addressing media professionalization through its Medios en Red Digital School. The platform offers free, virtual training modules, such as Module 2, which focuses on strategic communication and social marketing. This initiative aims to provide community and digital media outlets with tools to create purposeful communication and drive regional transformation.