How is the rise of TikTok and Instagram affecting news consumption patterns?

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TikTok and Instagram Drive Shift in News Consumption, Particularly for Younger Audiences

The increasing prominence of platforms like TikTok and Instagram is significantly altering how news is consumed, with a notable impact on younger demographics. These video-led networks are rapidly growing as primary gateways for news, accelerating a broader trend of audiences turning away from traditional media sources. This shift is contributing to a global decline in overall trust in news.
Video-Led Platforms Surpass Text-Based Sources

Since the onset of the pandemic, the growth in the use of third-party platforms for news has predominantly favoured video-centric environments over text-based ones. While Facebook continues to be the largest news platform overall, TikTok and Instagram are identified as the fastest-growing video networks driving this transformation in news consumption habits.
Social Media Becomes Dominant News Gateway

Social media platforms are increasingly serving as the main entry point for news consumption, a trend particularly pronounced among younger audiences. This aligns with the sustained rise in news video consumption, indicating a preference for visual formats. By 2026, consumption via social media and video networks is projected to surpass other news sources globally, accounting for 54 per cent of all audiences.
Decline in Traditional News Source Usage

Concurrently, there has been a marked decrease in reliance on traditional news channels. Since 2020, the use of television news sources has fallen by 13 per cent, and engagement with news organisations' own websites and applications has declined by 12 per cent, underscoring the migration of audiences to newer digital spaces.

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How is the rise of TikTok and Instagram affecting news consumption patterns?

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