An increasing number of young Europeans are relying on social media as their primary source of news, with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube overtaking traditional media outlets such as television and print.
Social media has officially become the leading news source for young people in the European Union, surpassing both TV and other forms of digital and print media.
According to the latest European Parliament Youth Survey, 42% of Europeans aged 16 to 30 primarily get their news from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, especially regarding political and social issues.
The report highlights that the younger the individual, the more likely they are to depend on social media for their news. It was noted that teens between the ages of 16 and 18 are particularly inclined to trust TikTok and Instagram more than any other platform. Meanwhile, individuals aged 25 to 30 show less reliance on TikTok (29% compared to 51% for 16-18 year-olds) and Instagram (41% compared to 52%). Instead, they turn to Facebook, which is twice as popular among this group (36%) compared to the youngest demographic (17%).
However, those in the 25 to 30 age range still prefer accessing their news from online press platforms (30%) and radio (19%), which is a more substantial preference than seen among 16-18 year-olds (21% and 13%, respectively).
