Online News Video Overtakes Broadcast TV in 45 Markets as Trust in News Falls to 37%
Updated
Updated · VideoWeek · Jun 17
Online News Video Overtakes Broadcast TV in 45 Markets as Trust in News Falls to 37%
3 articles · Updated · VideoWeek · Jun 17
Summary
45 markets now have more people watching online news video than broadcast TV news, with only Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands still at parity or favoring TV, the Reuters Institute said.
43% of consumers use Facebook for news, 34% YouTube, 26% Instagram and 20% TikTok, while video use on mainstream publishers’ own sites and apps fell 5% on average this year.
37% of people globally say they trust news overall, down from 40% after three flat years and the lowest level since the institute began tracking trust in 2015.
10% now use AI chatbots for news, up from 7% last year, but only 20% trust chatbot answers; trust in news on social media is similarly weak at 22%.
3% rely solely on creators and influencers for news, suggesting they mostly complement traditional outlets even as the boundary between creator-led and legacy media continues to blur.
AI is delivering news to millions, yet trust is near zero. How does this paradox reshape our search for truth?
As young audiences abandon news sites for creators, is the very definition of 'news' changing before our eyes?
2026 Report: Digital News Consumption Surges as Global Trust in Media Falls to 37%
Overview
In 2026, the way people get their news is changing fast, with more turning to AI chatbots and a wider range of digital platforms. However, this digital shift is happening as public trust in institutions and each other is falling sharply. Key reasons include rising inflation, more misinformation, and the growing use of generative AI, all of which make people more skeptical. As a result, society is becoming more insular, with many unwilling to trust those with different backgrounds or views. This combination of new technology and eroding trust is reshaping how information is shared and believed worldwide.