The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism's 2026 Digital News Report showed that social media and video platforms have become a major source of news for audiences around the world, with reliance on platforms such as YouTube continuing to grow.
The report indicated that The public has become increasingly inclined to watch news rather than read it, coinciding with the spread of short video and the rise of the role of content makers in providing information and news.
YouTube is among the platforms that have witnessed continuous growth in use as a source of news over the years The latter, along with TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
According to the report, social media networks and video platforms have become, for the first time in the history of the study, more widespread than websites and applications affiliated with news organizations as sources for obtaining news on average across markets. Which were included in the research.
This shift reflects a clear change in the way news is consumed, as video and content creators have become an essential part of the digital media landscape, especially among younger groups.
