Global shifts in news consumption and trust

Research from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism indicates a structural shift in news consumption, as social media and video platforms (54%) have surpassed news websites and applications (51%) as primary information sources across 48 surveyed markets. This trend is driven largely by younger demographics, with 52% of those aged 18 to 24 relying on social media, video, or AI chatbots. Traditional news sites have experienced a 12 percentage point drop in global usage since 2020, while organic search traffic from Google to analyzed news sites fell by 33% between November 2024 and November 2025.

Subsequent findings from the Digital News Report 2026 highlight a significant decline in news trust, with only 37% of surveyed individuals expressing confidence in news sources—the lowest level recorded since measurements began. The report also notes growing concerns regarding fake news.

Recent studies from the University of Oxford suggest that despite these digital shifts, traditional media remains the primary benchmark for news. In markets including Argentina, Japan, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, 88% of respondents consider television and radio to be news. Digital formats currently hold lower perceived authority; only 33% view podcasts as a news source, and just 26% view information from AI interfaces as news. Researchers attribute this to the recognizable environments and established standards for editorial control and verification found in traditional outlets. However, demographic divides persist, as 53% of those aged 18 to 24 consider social media a potential news source, compared to only 23% of those aged 55 and older.