A recent Ofcom survey has unveiled a significant shift in news consumption habits among UK residents. For the first time, online sources have surpassed television as the primary means of accessing news.
According to the survey, 71% of respondents reported using online services for news, surpassing the 70% who watch TV news bulletins. This marks a substantial increase from the previous year, when only 68% of respondents consumed news online. 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. Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram were the most commonly cited online news sources. Meta, the parent company of these platforms, emerged as the second-largest news source, with 40% of respondents using it for news.
Despite the growing popularity of online 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, and actual usage data may present a different picture.
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 witnessed the most substantial 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.
While online news consumption has surged, BBC One remains the most mentioned single news source, with 43% of respondents relying on it for news.
