The social networks Instagram and TikTok, as well as the video platform YouTube, represent the three main sources of information among adolescents in the United Kingdom, according to a study by the British media regulator published on Thursday, July 21. For the first time, Instagram (29%) leads the sources of information among 12-15 year olds, ahead of TikTok and YouTube, tied at 28%, according to Ofcom.
A “long-term decline”
The BBC One and BBC Two channels, the main sources of information for adolescents five years ago, are relegated to fifth place: they are 24% to be informed on these channels, compared to the previous 45%. It is followed by Facebook, with 22%, ahead of Sky News (19%).
Among those over 16, the level of information and general interest channels is now lower than it was before the pandemic, reflecting a “long-term decline” in traditional television.
“And if young people find information on social media less trustworthy, they prefer it because it offers a variety of opinions on the hot topics of the day,” he continued.
While popular with young people, TikTok is only rated trustworthy for news by 30% of them. Among adults, 71% of respondents consider television to be the most reliable medium and social networks the least reliable medium (35% trust them). The use of the press, online and in print, at 38% among adults, is declining compared to 2020 (47%) and 2018 (51%).
Source: BFM TV
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