People’s news consumption habits are changing rapidly, and for the first time, social media and video
platforms have overtaken traditional media as the main gateway to information worldwide.
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According to the Digital News Report 2026, only 37% of people globally say they trust most
of the news they consume, the lowest level recorded in more than a decade.
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At the same time, 30% of respondents across 48 countries now consider social media and video
platforms their primary source of news, compared to 22% just five years ago.
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The rise of platforms such as social networks and video apps is reshaping how people access information,
especially among younger generations who increasingly prefer short, mobile-first and visual content.
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The report also highlights the growing influence of content creators and influencers, with 27% of respondents
saying they regularly follow news-related content produced by creators rather than traditional media outlets.
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Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is slowly entering news consumption habits, with around
10% of respondents using AI chatbots weekly to access information.
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One thing is clear:
social media is becoming the dominant source of information, but rebuilding public trust
remains one of the biggest challenges facing the media industry today.
