Despite claims that X is becoming a more trusted news and information source, social media users are increasingly turning to the platform for this purpose, with TikTok now the bigger source of news coverage in many areas.
This is according to the latest Reuters Institute Digital News Report, which explores how people around the world are accessing news content and what role social platforms play in that.
The report incorporates responses from more than 94,000 respondents across 47 countries, providing the most comprehensive snapshot of global news consumption habits.
You can download the full report here, but in this post we’ll look at some key takeaways.
First, the report shows a decline in the use of Facebook and X in news content and a notable increase in the use of TikTok.
In Facebook’s case, this isn’t all that surprising given that Meta has made a conscious effort to distance itself from the divisive nature of news reporting and political discussion within the app.
However, X has been stepping up its efforts to become a leading news and information source, with Elon Musk aiming to establish the platform as the most trusted and truthful source of information. Musk has also frequently touted the app’s establishment as the top news app in many countries (X is classified in the “News” category in the App Store, not “Social Media”), and has said that this is the main reason “legacy” media wants Project X to fail.
However, the report suggests that this is not the case and that TikTok has now surpassed it as a news source.
TikTok’s rise in this regard may also be why authorities in the United States and elsewhere are concerned about the app’s growing influence, as its ties to the Chinese Communist Party mean the platform could spread pro-China journalism to Western audiences.
When it comes to overall news sources on social media, YouTube and Facebook remain the most used platforms for news.
Again, it appears that X still has a long way to go before it can establish itself as a significant source of information for news consumers, and many are finding it difficult to judge the reliability of X’s content.
These are some interesting notes on the evolution of online news sources and how social platforms are being used for such purposes.
While the overall trends aren’t all that surprising, it’s worth noting the changes relative to each app and how they relate to the broader approach to news.
The full Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2024 can be read here.
