Latest news with #DigitalNewsReport2025
The Print
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
Indians biggest consumers of AI-generated news & most comfortable with it—Reuters Institute report
The Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025—released on 17 June—is based on an online survey of 2,044 Indians with options to complete the survey in both Hindi and English. In total, 48 countries were covered in the survey including India. In contrast, countries like the UK (11 percent), Belgium (10 percent), Finland (10 percent) are relatively less comfortable using AI. The usability of AI-generated news in the UK is as low as 3 percent. Delhi: India is emerging as the biggest consumer of news using AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, globally. According to Digital News Report 2025, 'Almost a fifth (18 percent) of our Indian sample said they were using chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini to access news weekly, with comfort levels of 44 percent'. YouTube remains at the forefront of online news consumption in India with 55 percent respondents using the platform to access news. Next is WhatsApp with 46 percent, although it declined by 2 percent from the previous year. Whereas, among global respondents, Facebook at 36 percent remains the top source to access online news behind YouTube (30 percent) and WhatsApp (19 percent). The preference of news consumption is shifting. Around 38 percent Indian respondents say they prefer to read news, which is less than the global average of 55 percent; and 40 percent of Indian respondents prefer to watch news, in comparison to 31 percent in average globally. While in countries like the US, UK, Germany and Norway, the majority (over 50 percent) prefer to read news. In terms of trust in news, 43 percent respondents in India have faith in news, highest in the last five years, while it was 40 percent on an average across 48 markets, unchanged from the last 3 years. In context to India, the report states, 'When it comes to brand trust, legacy print titles and public broadcasters tend to enjoy higher levels of trust. However, brands that are either extremely critical or extremely uncritical of those in positions of power, tend to have lower trust scores in a polarised environment.' Also read: To use or not, is no longer the question. From IITs to DU, universities are fighting unethical AI use Indians are 'outliers' in news consumption While global audiences remain broadly sceptical of AI-generated news, Indians appear to be the most comfortable with it—44 percent express ease with such content, and 18 percent already use chatbots to access news. 'Several Indian newspapers have launched YouTube channels using high levels of automation and AI presentation,' states the report. However, the report also highlights that this phenomenon is prevalent in Asia where scepticism regarding AI generated news is less when compared to North America and Europe. In terms of news consumption, 76 percent Indian respondents have strong preference for smartphones to get news, with social media platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook being the most famous among English speaking respondents. With 55 percent respondents in India using YouTube for news consumption is highest globally. The primary reason given in this regard in the report is relatively cheap data charges and low levels of literacy levels. Despite WhatsApp being the second most popular option of online news consumption in India, it is also the biggest source of misleading information. The report states, 'Meta owned WhatsApp was cited by more than half of our Indian survey respondents (53 percent) as the channel that carried the biggest threat when it comes to false and misleading information, by far the highest score across markets.' The report pegs India's internet penetration at 56 percent. Global scenario on subscription model, social media and AI The report highlights that even as publishers seek to diversify revenue streams, digital subscription models remain stagnant. Among respondents in the 20 wealthiest countries surveyed, only 18 percent pay for online news, with the majority still opting for free news offerings. Norway, at 42 percent of the respondents, has the highest proportion of paid subscribers, while a large nation like the US is at 20 percent. Similar to India, preference for video as a source of news continues to rise globally. 'Across all markets the proportion consuming social video news has grown from 52 percent in 2020 to 65 percent in 2025,' states the report. Social media platforms are dominating the consumption patterns across all markets. Six online platforms—Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok and X—now hold more than 10 percent weekly news content. It was 2 percent a decade ago. 'Around a third of our global sample use Facebook (36 percent) and YouTube (30 percent) for news each week. Instagram (19 percent) and WhatsApp (19 percent) are used by around a fifth, while TikTok (16 percent) remains ahead of X at 12 percent,' the report states on the use of social media platforms for news. Globally, AI-generated news is still a relatively new phenomenon, but a growing one. The integration of AI chatbots into search engines to deliver real-time news is likely to accelerate this growth. While only 7 percent respondents allude to using it, the share rises to 15 percent among those under the age of 25. 'Audiences in most countries remain sceptical about the use of AI in the news and are more comfortable with use cases where humans remain in the loop.' The report added, 'Across countries, they expect that AI will make the news cheaper to make (+29 net difference, i.e. more respondents agree than disagree), and more up-to-date (+16).' However, they also believe it will make the news less transparent (–8), less accurate (–8), and less trustworthy (–18). (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: 'If ChatGPT is Jab We Met's Aditya Kashyap, Grok is Kabir Singh'. Elon's chatbot sets off meme fest
NDTV
a day ago
- Business
- NDTV
NDTV Most Popular For News In India, TV And Digital: Reuters Institute Report
Consolidating its dominance in the news landscape, both online and on TV, NDTV has emerged at the top in a survey by the prestigious Reuters Institute at Oxford University. For the fifth time in a row, the survey has found that NDTV 24X7 is the country's most-watched news channel and the country's most popular news website. As per the Reuters Institute's Digital News Report 2025, NDTV accounts for 29 per cent of weekly use across the television, radio and print media. Likewise, is ahead of the competition with 28 per cent weekly use, says the Report. "These data are based on a survey of mainly English-speaking, online news users in India - a small subset of a larger, more diverse, media market. Findings in this online poll are not nationally representative and will tend to under-represent the continued importance of traditional media such as TV and print," said the Reuters Institute, explaining the methodology used in the study. The report added that when it comes to brand trust, legacy print titles and public broadcasters tend to enjoy higher levels of trust. "However, brands that are either extremely critical or extremely uncritical of those in positions of power, tend to have lower trust scores in a polarised environment," it said. The data for India, said the Report, shows a strong preference for smartphones to access news along with social media platforms such as YouTube (55%), WhatsApp (46%), Instagram (37%), and Facebook (36%) being predominantly used for this purpose amongst our primarily English-speaking survey sample.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Social media is the main source of news for majority Americans, according to new research
Social media platforms have overtaken traditional television as the primary source of news for Americans, according to new research from the Reuters Institute. The study reveals that 54% of people in the United States now get their news from social media and video networks, including platforms like Facebook, X, and YouTube. This marks a significant shift, as traditional TV channels account for 50%, and news websites and apps are at 48%. The report, which surveyed nearly 100,000 people in 48 countries, suggests that the rise of social media and personality-driven news is happening more rapidly and with greater impact in the US than in other countries. "Changes in the media landscape are occurring faster in the United States, where social video and personality-based news are playing an increasingly dominant role," the report stated. For the first time, social media overtakes TV as Americans' top news source — Bob Pickard (@BobPickard) June 16, 2025 Among the most influential figures in this shift is podcaster Joe Rogan. Nearly a quarter (22%) of Americans reported encountering news or commentary from Rogan within the past week, making him one of the most widely-seen personalities in the country. Nic Newman, the report's author, explained that the rise of online influencers and personal brands presents a significant challenge for traditional news outlets. He added that many politicians are now opting to appear on platforms hosted by sympathetic online personalities instead of mainstream media, bypassing critical questioning in favour of more favourable coverage. Our Digital News Report 2025 is out today with data from 48 markets. Publishers face new competition from online influencers + AI chatbots. Online video is booming. News subscriptions remain flat . #DNR25 📱Explore full report + 🧵 thread — nicnewman (@nicnewman) June 17, 2025 The report also highlighted concerns regarding the spread of misinformation. Nearly half (47%) of respondents worldwide cited influencers and personalities as major sources of false or misleading information, placing them on par with politicians in terms of accountability for spreading unverified content. The growing prominence of social media platforms like X is also evident in the United States. Since Elon Musk's acquisition of X in 2022, the network has seen a notable shift, with an influx of right-leaning users, particularly among young men. This has contributed to a tripling of self-identified right-wing users on the platform in the US. In contrast, platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon have had little impact on global news consumption, with reach remaining under 2% in most markets. Key findings from the report also show that TikTok is the fastest-growing platform for news, with 17% of people globally now using it for news—an increase of four percentage points from last year. Additionally, the use of AI chatbots for news consumption is on the rise, particularly among younger users. However, many respondents expressed concerns about the transparency and reliability of news delivered via AI. Despite these shifts, trust in established news brands remains strong. The report found that all generations still value trusted sources with a track record of accuracy, even though their usage may have declined.
