Social Media Overtakes News Sites as Trust in Reporting Declines
Australians are increasingly getting their news from social media, leading to a decline in trust in traditional news sources. This shift, revealed in a recent study, raises concerns about misinformation and the public’s ability to discern facts.
A Changing Landscape
According to a 2025 study, social media is the primary news source for 26% of Australians, surpassing online news sites at 23%. Simultaneously, 32% of readers report a lack of trust in news reporting, an increase since 2016.
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“The Report paints a picture of growing distrust in mainstream news and the perception of a polluted online information environment where people find it hard to discern facts from fake news.”
—Sora Park, Researcher
Worryingly, Australia has the highest level of concern regarding online truth versus falsehood among 48 surveyed countries, with three-quarters expressing worry. A 2024 report by the Pew Research Center showed that 56% of U.S. adults get news from social media often or sometimes, with 40% feeling worn out by the amount of news (Pew Research Center).
Impact of Misinformation
Facebook (59%) and TikTok (57%) are viewed as the platforms most likely to spread misinformation by Australians. Facebook is still the most-used social media site for news, at 38% but YouTube and Instagram are gaining popularity. TikTok, particularly popular with younger generations, is the fastest-growing social media platform for news, at 14%, up from 2020.
News Avoidance and Literacy
The study indicates a rising trend of news avoidance, with nearly 69% of Australians sometimes or often avoiding the news. Reasons cited include the negative impact on mood (46%), perceptions of untrustworthiness or bias (37%), and news fatigue (32%). Trust significantly influences this avoidance; those who trust news are less likely to avoid it compared to those who distrust it. Additionally, concern about misinformation correlates with greater news avoidance.
News literacy education could be a solution, but such programs are limited, particularly for adults. Only 5% of those 65 or older have had news education, compared to over half of 18-24-year-olds. Those with news literacy education are more likely to pay for news, be interested in it, and less likely to avoid it. They are also more confident in identifying misinformation, turning to trusted sources and fact-checking more often.
The study suggests that educating the public on news consumption, its role in society, and critical evaluation is crucial. Increasing media literacy could have positive impacts on societal cohesion and the news industry’s economics.