14-6-2023 (NEW YORK) A report released on Tuesday reveals a significant decline in the number of people worldwide who initially access news through websites or apps, with a preference for social media, search engines, and mobile aggregators among younger age groups. The annual Digital News Report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism highlights the growing attention paid to celebrities, influencers, and social media personalities on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. TikTok, in particular, emerges as the fastest-growing social network for news consumption, attracting 20 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds, a five-percentage point increase from the previous year. However, the report also notes a decline in overall interest in news, as fewer than half of the survey respondents express significant interest, down from 6 out of 10 in 2017.
In light of these findings, Rasmus Nielsen, Director of the Reuters Institute, emphasizes the importance of recognizing that the younger generation, born in the 2000s, is unlikely to develop a preference for traditional news outlets as they age. The report, based on an online survey of approximately 94,000 adults across 46 markets, including the United States, challenges the notion that younger audiences will gravitate towards established websites, broadcast channels, or print media.
The survey also reveals a shift in news curation preferences. Less than a third of respondents consider personalized news based on their previous consumption as a favorable approach, showing a decline of 6 percentage points since the question was last asked in 2016. Nevertheless, people still marginally favor algorithmic selection over human editorial choices.
Trust in news has experienced a decline of 2 percentage points in the past year, reversing gains made in several countries during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. On average, 40 percent of individuals indicate that they trust most news most of the time. While the United States has seen a 6-percentage point increase in trust, reaching 32 percent, it remains one of the lowest-ranking countries in the survey.
Across various markets, 56 percent of respondents express concerns about distinguishing between real and fake news on the internet, indicating a 2-percentage point increase from the previous year.
The report concludes that only 48 percent of people claim to be very or extremely interested in news, marking a decline from the 63 percent reported in 2017.
