Digital News Report 2016

Half of our sample (51%) say they use social media as a source of news each week. Around one in ten (12%) say it is their main source. Facebook is by far the most important network for news.

More than a quarter of 18–24s say social media (28%) are their main source of news – more than television (24%) for the first time.

Business problems for many publishers have worsened with the rise of ad-blocking, which is running at between 10% (Japan) and 38% (Poland) but higher amongst under-35s and people who use news the most.

Only around 8% of smartphone users currently use an ad-blocker but around a third of respondents say they plan to install one on their mobile in the next year.

Most consumers are still reluctant to pay for general news online, particularly in the highly competitive English-speaking world (9% average), but in some smaller countries, protected by language, people are twice as likely to pay.

Average payments tend to be highest in the UK, the US, Australia, and in the Nordic countries – where ongoing subscriptions are common.

Trust in news is highest in Finland (65%) and lowest in Greece (20%). Almost everywhere, editors and journalists are trusted less than news organisations.

We find strong concerns that personalised news and more algorithmic selection of news will mean missing out on important information or challenging viewpoints.