Latest news with #NicNewman
CNN
20-06-2025
- CNN
Phone users, bombarded by news alerts, are switching them off, study shows
Many smartphones users have grown weary of news alerts – the notifications regularly popping up on their screens to inform them of breaking news or other world events – according to a new analysis. A global survey by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism shows that 79% of respondents do not receive any news alerts during a typical week – and that 43% of those report having actively disabled such notifications. Those active disablers switch off alerts 'either because they feel they get too many or because they are not useful,' according to the report, published Tuesday. 'Publishers are extremely conscious of the tightrope they are walking when sending news alerts,' Nic Newman, the report's lead researcher, wrote. 'Most have strict limits on the number they send each day and clear criteria about the type of alerts as well as the best time to send them.' The institute found that the prevalence of news alerts has increased substantially over the past decade in many countries. For example, in the United States, the proportion of people receiving news notifications on a weekly basis has grown from 6% to 23% since 2014, and from 3% to 18% in the United Kingdom over the same time period. 'Many consumers say they are becoming overwhelmed by mobile notifications of all kinds – from news aggregators as well as publishers – as well as sports scores, calendar requests, messaging groups, and social media interactions,' Newman said. For instance, in the UK, the study showed that news aggregator apps like Google News and Apple News are used widely, though many respondents complained that such apps can send multiple alerts on the same topic. In the US, 16% of respondents said they had received at least one news alert from CNN over the previous week, followed by Google News, with 13%, and Fox News, with 11%. 'Alerts are an easy way to keep up-to-date, as well as to widen perspectives beyond breaking news,' Newman wrote. 'They are not valued, however, when they use oversensationalized headlines (clickbait) or when publishers send too many alerts that do not feel relevant.'
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Social media overtakes TV as main news source in US: Report
A new report has found that more people in the United States now get their news from social media and video platforms than from traditional television or news websites. The 2025 Digital News Report, published by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, shows that 54% of Americans use platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X to follow the news. That figure is higher than the 50% who watch news on television and the 48% who use news websites and apps. The findings were reported by the BBC, which quoted the study's author, Nic Newman, as saying, 'The rise of social media and personality-based news is not unique to the United States, but changes seem to be happening faster and with more impact than in other countries.' The report also found that online personalities and influencers are becoming key sources of news for many people. Podcaster Joe Rogan was the most visible media figure in the US during the study period. The BBC said nearly one in four people (22%) had seen news or political commentary from him in the week of the survey. According to the report, some politicians are now choosing to appear on podcasts and shows hosted by influencers who are friendly to their views, rather than giving interviews to mainstream journalists. The Reuters Institute noted that, 'Populist politicians around the world are increasingly able to bypass traditional journalism in favour of friendly partisan media, 'personalities', and 'influencers' who often get special access but rarely ask difficult questions.' The report also raised concerns about false or misleading information. Globally, 47% of those surveyed said influencers and online personalities are among the main sources of misinformation. The same percentage said politicians were also responsible for spreading misleading claims. The report said the use of X for news is steady or growing in many countries, especially in the United States. Since Elon Musk took over the platform in 2022, more politically right-leaning users especially young men have joined the network. At the same time, some left-leaning or progressive users have reduced their activity. The BBC quoted the report as saying, 'Many more right-leaning people, notably young men, have flocked to the network, while some progressive audiences have left or are using it less frequently.' In the US, the share of users who identify as being on the political right has tripled since Musk's takeover. In the UK, the right-leaning user base on X has almost doubled, the study found. Alternative platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon have made little impact. The report said these platforms have 2% or less global reach when it comes to news use. Other key trends from the report include, TikTok is the fastest-growing platform for news. It is now used by 17% of people globally, up by four percentage points since last year. Use of AI chatbots for news is increasing. Among people under 25, the use of chatbots is twice as common as in the general population. However, most people are worried about how AI might affect journalism. Many believe it could make news less accurate, transparent, and trustworthy. Despite these changes, the report found that people of all ages still value trusted news brands, especially those with a long record of accuracy even if they do not use them as often as before. The Reuters Institute's Digital News Report is now in its 14th year. This year's survey included responses from nearly 100,000 people in 48 countries, making it one of the largest studies of its kind.
