News & Analysis16 June 2026thehindu.com

Social media, video platforms surpass traditional outlets as leading news sources: report

A recent report by the Reuters Institute reveals a global decline in trust in news and a shift in consumption patterns, with social media and video platforms (like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) surpassing traditional outlets as primary news sources. This trend is more pronounced among younger audiences but is observed across all age groups. The report also highlights a rise in the use of AI chatbots for news access, especially among those under 35, and a significant increase in online news video consumption on third-party platforms. While content creators are gaining traction, they are seen as complementing rather than replacing traditional media. Paradoxically, despite the shift to digital platforms, concerns about misinformation are growing, leading to lower trust in news.

A recent report by the Reuters Institute reveals a global decline in trust in news and a shift in consumption patterns, with social media and video platforms (like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) surpassing traditional outlets as primary news sources. This trend is more pronounced among younger audiences but is observed across all age groups. The report also highlights a rise in the use of AI chatbots for news access, especially among those under 35, and a significant increase in online news video consumption on third-party platforms. While content creators are gaining traction, they are seen as complementing rather than replacing traditional media. Paradoxically, despite the shift to digital platforms, concerns about misinformation are growing, leading to lower trust in news.

Exam linkage

GS-I: Social Issues (impact of technology on society, changing social habits); GS-II: Governance (role of media, challenges to democratic processes from misinformation, media ethics); GS-III: Science & Technology (applications of AI, IT in media), Internal Security (misinformation as a threat).

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