Social Media Eclipses Traditional News Outlets as Primary News Source for Australians
The Australian media landscape has undergone a seismic shift, with social media platforms now the dominant source of news for Australians, surpassing traditional news websites. The 2025 Digital News Report: Australia reveals a growing reliance on social media for news consumption, raising concerns about the future of journalism, the spread of misinformation, and the erosion of public trust. This trend reflects a global phenomenon, but Australia stands out with particularly high levels of concern about online misinformation and a significant lack of news literacy training amongst its population.
The report, a collaborative effort between the News and Media Research Centre at the University of Canberra and the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University, paints a stark picture of evolving news consumption habits. Only 23% of Australians now rely primarily on online news sites for their news, while 26% turn to social media. This marks a significant turning point, highlighting the growing influence of algorithm-driven platforms and the declining reach of established news organizations. The decline in trust in traditional news sources is equally alarming, plummeting to a mere 32%, a significant drop from 40% in 2016. Coupled with this declining trust is a rise in news avoidance, with a staggering 69% of Australians admitting to sometimes or often avoiding news altogether.
The study, which surveyed over 2,000 Australian adults, reveals a complex interplay of factors driving these trends. Australians lead the world in expressing concern about differentiating real news from fake news online, with three-quarters of respondents expressing worry. This anxiety is particularly pronounced on platforms like Facebook (59%) and TikTok (57%), underscoring the challenges posed by the proliferation of misinformation on these platforms. While Facebook remains the most popular platform for news consumption (38%), video-based platforms like YouTube (31%) and Instagram (20%) are rapidly gaining ground. TikTok, in particular, has seen explosive growth in news consumption, rising from a mere 2% in 2020 to 14% in 2025, largely driven by younger demographics.
However, this increasing dependence on social media for news comes at a cost. The report highlights a significant erosion of trust in news, fuelled by concerns about bias, sensationalism, and the overwhelming volume of information online. News avoidance is often attributed to the negative impact of news on mental well-being, with almost half of those avoiding news citing its detrimental effect on their mood. Other contributing factors include concerns about bias and lack of trust (37%) and news fatigue (32%). This suggests that the current news environment, particularly on social media, is contributing to a sense of information overload and negativity, prompting many to disengage altogether.
A crucial finding of the report is the significant gap in news literacy among Australians. A staggering 70% of respondents reported never having received any form of news literacy education. This lack of training is particularly pronounced among older demographics, with only 5% of those aged 65+ having received any news literacy education, compared to over half of those aged 18-24. Furthermore, the report reveals gender and geographic disparities, with fewer women and residents from rural areas having access to such training. This lack of media literacy skills leaves a significant portion of the population vulnerable to misinformation and manipulation.
The importance of news literacy education is underscored by the stark contrast in news consumption habits between those who have received training and those who haven’t. Individuals with news literacy training demonstrate a higher propensity to pay for news, exhibit greater trust in journalism, and actively engage in verifying information. They are also less likely to avoid news, even when concerned about misinformation. The study reveals that 50% of news-literate respondents verify information using trusted sources, compared to just 36% of those without such training. This clearly demonstrates the positive impact of news literacy education on critical thinking and informed news consumption.
The 2025 Digital News Report delivers a potent call to action, emphasizing the urgent need for widespread news literacy education. Equipping citizens with the skills to critically evaluate information, identify misinformation, and engage responsibly with news is crucial, particularly in an era marked by increasing polarization and the rise of populism. Furthermore, the report highlights the economic benefits of improved news literacy for the news industry itself. With half of those who pay for news having received some form of news literacy training, investing in media literacy can potentially contribute to a more sustainable future for journalism, ensuring that accurate and reliable information remains accessible and valued by the public. The report’s findings underscore the interconnectedness of news literacy, public trust, and the health of the democratic process, making a compelling case for prioritizing media literacy education as a crucial investment in an informed and engaged citizenry.
