Video-Based News Platforms Continue To Gain Popularity As Traditional Media Outlets Face Challenges

The 2023 Digital News Report (DNR) by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) reveals several key findings. Facebook’s influence on journalism is declining, while video-based social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram are experiencing rapid growth. TikTok is now the fastest-growing social network, with 44% of 18-24-year-olds using it for any purpose and 20% using it for news. The report also highlights a shift in how people access news, with more reliance on social media, search engines, and mobile aggregators. Interest in news is declining among women and young people, who often avoid certain topics or stories that they find emotionally draining. In Kenya specifically, the study shows high adoption rates of TikTok for news consumption among 18-24-year-olds. Trust in news has increased by six percentage points from last year’s study, with Kenya ranking second out of 46 markets in overall trust in media. Trusted news brands include Daily Nation, NTV, and BBC.