Reuters Report: Young People Shunning News, Many Never Started

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford has published its annual digital news consumption survey, involving approximately 100,000 people across 48 countries. Presented at the DW Global Media Forum in Bonn, the report highlights concerning trends, particularly among younger demographics.

Lead author Jim Egan noted that social media and video platforms have become the primary news sources, surpassing television and traditional media websites and apps. However, this shift is more about a decline in other platforms than explosive growth in social media.

Alarming data emerged from the US, where over a third of respondents under 25 said they had never regularly watched TV news or used news websites. "They're not only leaving — they're not even starting," Egan said.

Popularity of Video Formats

75% of respondents said they watch news videos weekly, especially on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Globally, 20% use TikTok as a news source, and 34% turn to YouTube. In Kenya, the figure reaches 66%.

The study refutes the assumption that young people only watch short-form videos. About 20% regularly watch videos exceeding 20 minutes, and a similar number follow live news programs on YouTube. Young users are particularly active in longer formats.

Trust Crisis and AI

Trust in news continues to decline: in 29 of 48 countries, trust dropped by at least three percentage points. Only 37% of global respondents said they mostly trust the news. Egan remarked that data should not shift that much in a year.

Artificial intelligence (AI) use for news grew from 7% to 10% last year. While trust in AI chatbots is currently very low, Egan believes this will not last forever.

Some young people rely on "news influencers," but only 10% of users say these sources fully meet their news needs.

Despite challenges, the report underscores journalism's continued relevance, especially in times of uncertainty. The German portion of the study was conducted by the Leibniz Institute for Media Research. The Reuters Institute receives funding from, among others, tech giant Google.