Social Media Overtake Traditional Media for News in Canada and Globally

A Reuters Institute Digital News Report shows that in Canada, 53% of respondents used social media for news in the week before the survey, an increase of nine percentage points from the previous year, while TV usage fell to 49%. Social media became the most‑used news source for the first time, despite many news outlets being blocked on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. YouTube was the leading platform for news‑related videos (35%), ahead of Facebook (27%) and news websites or apps (22%). The report also examined trust, AI chatbot use, and the perceived impact of public‑broadcast news on Canadian life.

A parallel annual report released by the same institute indicates that worldwide, social‑media platforms and video‑sharing services now surpass traditional media—including television and print—in the share of people who turn to them for news. This marks a shift in news consumption habits across all age groups and language communities.