According to research conducted by Ofcom, TikTok has become the primary source of news for teenagers in the UK.
The study found that 28% of 12 to 15-year-olds use the video-sharing app to stay informed about current affairs, a higher percentage than any other platform.
YouTube and Instagram tied for second place, with 25% of teenagers in this age group using these platforms for news consumption.
The report also revealed that online sources have surpassed physical newspapers as the preferred news source among UK adults, with 68% of adults using online sources compared to 26% using print newspapers.
However, television remains the most popular platform for news, with 70% of adults tuning in, rising to 75% when including on-demand content.
The research suggests that TikTok’s popularity as a news source has grown, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, challenging the perception that it is primarily used for lighter topics.
Despite TikTok’s rise, 45% of 12 to 15-year-olds expressed disinterest in news, with many finding it boring or upsetting.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
