Social networks, online video outweigh traditional media in 2026
TLE DESK: News consumers worldwide are turning more to social media and video platforms than traditional outlets for information, according to a major report released Tuesday that warns old-style media business models are under serious threat. The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford noted that 2026 marks a significant milestone, with social media and video network consumption now the most widely used source of news globally at 54 percent.
The annual report, based on online surveys of nearly 100,000 people across 48 countries conducted early this year by YouGov, found that 54 percent of respondents got news from social media or video platforms in the previous week — rising to 56 percent when including AI chatbots like ChatGPT. This surpassed TV news at 52 percent, newspaper apps or websites at 51 percent, and radio at 21 percent.
Three out of ten respondents overall said social media or video platforms were their main source of news, rising to half among 18-24-year-olds. Most users visited X or YouTube specifically for news, while on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok they were more likely to encounter it incidentally. Television remained the leading source only for those aged 45 and above, and traditional media apps and websites were not the first choice for any age group.
The findings highlight shrinking revenues for legacy media, with just 17 percent of respondents paying for online news, while Google and Meta dominate advertising. Trust in traditional media hit an all-time low of 37 percent saying they trust most news most of the time. Use of AI chatbots for news rose to 10 percent weekly, up from seven percent last year.
The report underscores ongoing trends including growing demand for video, the rise of individual content creators, and volatility amid geopolitical uncertainty. Lead author Jim Egan described it as a drift rather than a sudden shift, but an important moment with major implications for audience reach, engagement and monetisation.
