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Television is no longer the main source of news in Britain for the first time since the 1960s, as Britons increasingly use online news and social media apps, according to research by the media regulator.
Ofcom said on Tuesday that TV news viewership continues to fall sharply, with online platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, as well as digital versions of broadcasters, becoming increasingly popular sources of news.
The watchdog said in its annual study of audience habits that 71% of adults get their news online, compared with 70% from TV, describing it as “a generational shift in the balance of news media.”
TV news reach fell from 75% last year, while Ofcom said more than four-fifths of 16-24 year-olds got their news from social media.
The report highlights pressure on more traditional linear broadcasters, such as the BBC, Sky and Channel 4, to accelerate their shift to digital platforms, including their own streaming sites and social media apps such as TikTok.
Broadcast executives are investing in creating TV and audio content specifically for these digital channels – the BBC, for example, is focusing on expanding services such as iPlayer and Sounds – but they are also having to deal with the declining number of older viewers watching traditional TV.
Ofcom has said it is setting out a framework for a new review of public service media, which will first analyse how well broadcasters such as the BBC and Channel 4 are serving audiences, including online, before looking at options for changing regulation or law to support the sector.
Yih-Choung Teh, Ofcom’s group director of strategy and research, said TV “has dominated people’s news habits since the 1960s and is still very much trusted”. But we are seeing a generational shift towards online news.
Among older age groups, TV remained the primary platform for news, with 85% of those aged 55 and over identifying TV as their main source of news, compared to just half of those aged 16 to 24.
Four of the 10 most popular news sources across all age groups are Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Along with TikTok, it all took the top five spots among 16-24 year olds.
BBC One remained the most popular individual news source, with ITV1 second, but news across all BBC platforms still reached two-thirds of all UK adults. Channel 4 dropped out of the top 10 for the first time.
However, broadcast news is still rated much higher than online news sources for accuracy, reliability and fairness.
