Digital platforms reshape media consumption as social media overtakes news and FAST streaming expands

A Reuters Institute report released on 16 June 2026 shows that 54 % of respondents in a survey of 100 000 people across 48 countries used social‑media and video platforms for news in the week before the poll, rising to 56 % when AI conversational agents such as Chat‑GPT are included. This overtakes television (52 %), news‑site apps (51 %) and radio (21 %). The study notes that among 18‑24‑year‑olds more than half rely on these platforms for information, and it describes the change as “a central theme” for 2026, quoted by report author Jim Egan.

The same shift is reflected in the growing prominence of FAST – Free Ad‑supported Streaming Television – which blends linear, schedule‑driven programming with internet delivery and ad‑funded revenue. FAST offers users free, frictionless access to continuous video streams without subscription fees, positioning it as a major alternative to traditional broadcast and on‑demand services and further reducing the role of conventional television and print media.