Gen Z turns to Instagram and TikTok for news, Ofcom report shows

They use these platforms to ‘Google’ things and spend countless hours on them every day. Even though some of these social media platforms have been a breeding ground for fake information, deep fakes, and security concerns, Gen Z also turns to them for news.

Take TikTok, for instance: the Chinese-owned short-form video platform is banned on government devices in the U.K. and could potentially face a ban over security concerns in the U.S. It has also been linked to misinformation around elections in the past. 

Yet, the app has been “growing in popularity as a source of news” with about 11% of U.K. adults—up from just 1% in 2020. 

Among teens aged 12 to 15 years, in particular, TikTok’s reach for news is higher than that of YouTube and Instagram, new Office of Communications data released Tuesday found.

The report, which categorizes Gen Z into teens of 12 to 15 years and adults of 16 to 24 years, said that online platforms—whether a news publication’s website or social media—seem to be the go-to source. Among the older Gen Zers, TikTok was ranked as among the top “most important source of news.” Facebook, X and Instagram also made it to the top ranks.   

The growing interest in news consumption via TikTok could be alarming given the platform has been in the crosshairs of regulators in recent times over content safety. The sum total of social media can feel somewhat like its own Wild West amid the rise in misinformation and deepfakes. 

However, the lovers of online news also seem aware of social media’s risks, as they rank it the lowest in terms of accuracy and impartiality. Even among digital sources, search engines like Google are seen as more reliable than social media platforms. 

Big paradigm shift

It’s true—the generation of digital natives, who have had technology at their disposal since day one, is shaking up age-old practices. TikTok is just a small piece of the paradigm shift in how news is read and shared.

Last year, Britain’s Office of National Statistics said it would alter its data collection methods as Millennials and Gen Z aren’t answering phone calls anymore. They are also “Googling” things less when looking for answers, turning to platforms like TikTok instead.   

Similar trends have been seen in the U.S., where many adults find news on social media sites like Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. 

People appreciate that social media offers a range of opinions and is more tailored to personal interests nonetheless. It’s also a quick way to find news, especially on light-hearted subjects that younger Gen Zers gravitate towards. 

Ofcom’s data highlights a stark contrast between how Gen Z, that’s either in school, university, or just about entering the workforce, consumes news compared to their seniors. About 85% of Gen X and Boomers (the Ofcom category of “over-55s”) still primarily rely on TV, although they are showing signs of adapting to online formats.

Even if traditional forms of media aren’t used as widely anymore, they still rank higher in terms of trustworthiness among all age groups. 

“Television has dominated people’s news habits since the sixties, and it still commands really high trust. But we’re witnessing a generational shift to online news,” Yih-Choung Teh, Ofcom’s director for strategy and research, said in a statement. 

 Ofcom’s 2024 survey involved over 5,400 interviews between November 2023 and March 2024.