A recent survey conducted by Ofcom, the UK’s broadcast regulator, reveals a significant shift in news consumption habits. For the first time, online sources have surpassed television as the primary means of accessing news.
According to the survey, 71% of the population reported using online services for news, compared to 70% who watch TV news bulletins. This marks a notable increase in online news consumption, rising from 68% in the previous year. Social media platforms also saw a rise in usage, with 52% of respondents citing them as a news source, up from 47% last year.
Among younger demographics, aged 16-24, social media news consumption was even more prevalent, with 82% reporting its use.
The most commonly cited online news sources were Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Meta, the parent company of these platforms, was the second-largest news source, with 40% of respondents using it for news.
The BBC remains the largest single source of news, with 68% of respondents relying on it. However, it’s important to note that this survey measures self-reported behavior, whereas actual usage data may tell a different story.
In contrast, traditional news providers experienced significant declines. Newspaper and website usage dropped from 39% to 34%, while TV news fell from 75% to 70%. BBC News online also saw a decline, from 22% to 18%.
YouTube saw the largest increase in usage, with 19% of respondents citing it as a news source, up from 7% in 2023. Other online news sources, such as the Guardian and Daily Mail, maintained similar figures to last year.
Despite the shift towards online news consumption, BBC One remains the most mentioned single news source, with 43% of respondents relying on it for news.
