Online news has officially surpassed television news as the most popular source of information in the UK, according to a recent survey by the broadcast regulator Ofcom.
The study found that 71% of the population now rely on online sources for their news, compared to 70% who still turn to traditional TV news bulletins. This marks a significant increase from the previous year, where only 68% of people reported using online services for news.
Social media platforms have also seen a rise in news consumption, with 52% of individuals using sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram as sources of information. Among 16 to 24-year-olds, a staggering 82% reported using social media for news.
The survey highlighted Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram as the most commonly mentioned online news sources. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, emerged as the second-largest news source, with 40% of respondents stating they rely on it for news.
Despite the growing popularity of online news, the BBC remains the most significant single source of news in the UK, with 68% of individuals turning to the broadcaster for information.
However, the study noted a decline in traditional news providers, with newspapers and their websites experiencing a drop in usage from 39% to 34%.
YouTube saw the most significant increase in usage, jumping from 7% to 19% in a year. This surge can be attributed to the platform being referred to as “other online” in the previous survey.
While online news sites like the Guardian and the Daily Mail maintained similar figures from the previous year, traditional newspapers saw a decline in readership, especially among those over 55 years old.
Interestingly, BBC One remains the most mentioned single news source in the survey, with 43% of participants relying on the channel for news. This highlights the enduring popularity of TV news, despite the overall decline in television viewership.
Overall, the survey showcases the shifting landscape of news consumption, with online sources and social media platforms playing an increasingly vital role in keeping the public informed.
