TikTok is said to be the fastest growing news source for adults in the UK


Louise Jean

July 22, 2022 at 2:10 p.m.

3

TikTok © © Pixabay

©Pixabay

Let’s not get carried away: Only 7% of adults in the UK use TikTok as the primary source of information. However, this figure has been growing strongly since 2020.

Indeed, in 2020, the statistic was only 1%. The progress in just two years is significant! By comparing the figure to the different age groups, however, it is easy to see that this unprecedented growth does not weigh heavily against the place occupied by TikTok in the habits of the youngest.

TikTok: the media source of the future

A survey carried out by Ofcom in the United Kingdom reveals the digital habits of each age group, in particular their use of media and social networks. With its phenomenal success, TikTok’s role is no longer limited to simple entertainment: 40% of young Gen Z Americans (those born between 1997 and 2012) use the video platform for their daily searches (restaurants, events , places and activities) instead of Google or Maps.

In terms of daily news source, TikTok is still sixth behind the BBC and BBC One, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, at least among 16-24 year olds. In this age group, 27% of young Britons favor TikTok.

On the other hand, the youngest hardly read newspapers to access information online: 12-15 year olds almost exclusively use Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. However, they remain attached to TV: 59% of young people aged 12-15 use it as their first source of information.

Why are social networks more popular among young people?

The youngest are turning to social networks, because they find a greater diversity of opinion there. It is true that TV channels or newspapers, even online, generally remain attached to a particular political line, or stick to journalistic neutrality. But social networks bring together all kinds of opinions around public and accessible sub-communities.

However, young people are not fooled and know that social networks promote misinformation. According to the study, they find social networks less reliable than traditional media. This is in particular the reputation suffered by TikTok, which was pinned for having allowed fake news on the war in Ukraine.

Source : The Verge



Source link -99