For the first time, social networks become the main source of global information

Global information has just reached a historic milestone. Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and other social platforms are now used more for information than television, online press or radio. A profound change in uses which is shaking up the media economy and redrawing the circuits of information dissemination.

According to the Digital News Report 2026 published Tuesday by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, 54% of those surveyed said they had used social networks or video platforms to get information during the week preceding the survey. A proportion that even reaches 56% when artificial intelligence conversational agents like ChatGPT are included. For comparison, television is cited by 52% of respondents, media sites and applications by 51%, while radio falls to 21%.

“2026 marks an important milestone: for the first time, social networks and video platforms overtake other sources of information and become the primary means of obtaining information on a global scale.”writes Jim Egan, lead author of the report.

Carried out among nearly 100,000 people in 48 countries by the YouGov institute, this reference study confirms a trend that has been at work for several years. But never before has it reached such a level on a global scale. “We have to see this as a gradual evolution rather than a sudden change.”underlines Jim Egan.

The shift is particularly spectacular among young adults. More than one in two respondents aged 18 to 24 now consider social networks and video platforms as their main source of information. Conversely, television only retains its dominant position among those over 45. As for traditional media sites and applications, they suffer an even more severe setback: no age group cites them as their primary information channel.

However, uses vary depending on the platform. On YouTube or X, Internet users often connect with the explicit intention of obtaining information. On Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, news is consumed more through content, in an opportunistic manner, while users are present for other activities.

For publishers, this development represents a major challenge. Losing direct contact with audiences reduces their ability to retain readers and monetize their business. “All this has obvious consequences for capacity†des medias “to reach the public and generate revenue”underlines Jim Egan. The situation is all the more worrying as only 17% of respondents say they pay to access information online. At the same time, a growing share of advertising investments is absorbed by large technological platforms, to the detriment of press groups and historic broadcasters.

The report also highlights several structural trends that continue to transform the media ecosystem. Video formats continue to rise, while content creators specializing in current events gain influence. Figures like “Hugo Décrypte” in France illustrate this rise in power of new intermediaries capable of competing with established media brands among young audiences.

At the same time, trust in information continues to decline. Only 37% of those questioned say they trust “Most information most of the time”the lowest level ever recorded by the study. Generative artificial intelligence is also establishing itself in information consumption habits. Now, 10% of respondents use conversational tools every week to get information, compared to 7% a year earlier.

For the Reuters Institute, this progression could further accelerate the fragmentation of access to information and profoundly modify the role of the media in the value chain. “How to respond to the rapid development of generative AI is the biggest challenge facing media executives and policy makersâ€estimates Jim Egan.

Beyond the figures, the report describes a sector facing increasing instability, reflecting a geopolitical and technological environment in full restructuring. “It’s disturbing to read part of the 2026 report, but this is a particularly disruptive time we’re going through, both for the news media industry and the world at large.”concludes the author.