A major change in news consumption has been recorded around the world.
For the first time, social media and online video platforms have overtaken traditional media as the most widely used source of news.
The finding was revealed in a new report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.
According to the study, 54 per cent of respondents said news was accessed through social media or video platforms during the week before the survey.
That figure was found to be higher than television news, newspaper websites and radio.
Younger Audiences Drive Change
The shift has been led largely by younger audiences.
Among people aged 18 to 24, half said social media and video platforms were their main source of news.
News is increasingly being discovered through apps such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.
Different habits were also observed.
On YouTube and X, news was often actively sought out.
On Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, it was more likely to be encountered while users were browsing other content.
Traditional Media Faces Pressure
Growing pressure is being placed on traditional news organisations.
Television was found to remain the leading source of news mainly among older audiences aged 45 and above.
Across all age groups, however, news websites and newspaper apps were rarely identified as the first destination for information.
Concerns are also being raised over revenue.
Only 17 per cent of respondents said they paid for online news.
At the same time, a large share of digital advertising revenue has been captured by major technology companies.
Trust Levels Remain Low
Confidence in the news industry was found to remain weak.
Just 37 per cent of respondents said they trusted most news most of the time.
The report suggested that trust levels have continued to decline in many markets.
Questions around misinformation, political division and the growing influence of content creators have added to those concerns.
AI News Tools Gain Ground
The use of artificial intelligence for news consumption is also being expanded.
Ten per cent of respondents said AI chatbots were used for news every week, up from seven per cent a year earlier.
Researchers noted that the rapid growth of AI is creating new challenges for news organisations and policymakers.
As audiences continue to change their habits, the future of journalism is increasingly being shaped by social platforms, video content and emerging technologies.
For traditional media, a period of adaptation is being entered as competition for attention grows stronger than ever.
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