Facebook remains the most-used social media platform for news, with 30% of adults reporting they get news from it, followed closely by YouTube, Instagram, and X.

In response to these shifts, Ofcom plans to review public service media content to ensure that broadcasters like the BBC and ITV effectively serve news audiences and to consider potential regulatory changes.

While the shift to online news sources offers a wider range of viewpoints, it raises concerns about accuracy and misinformation, particularly with the rise of AI technologies.

Despite the decline in traditional TV news consumption, the BBC remains a leading news source, with its website being the most accessed online news platform at 59%.

Interestingly, despite the rise of online news, traditional sources like television and radio still maintain higher levels of trust among consumers, according to the Ofcom study.

In contrast, television remains the preferred news platform for 85% of individuals over the age of 55, highlighting a stark divide in news consumption preferences across age groups.

New research from the U.K. communications regulator Ofcom indicates a significant shift in news consumption, revealing that online platforms have overtaken television as the most popular news source among adults, with 71% preferring online news compared to 70% for TV.

Concerns about misinformation are prevalent, with Ofcom's survey revealing that 60% of respondents encountered false or misleading content during the recent U.K. General Election, including a notable rise in deepfake materials.

This trend marks a generational change in media habits, particularly pronounced among younger audiences, where 88% of 16- to 24-year-olds now favor online news over traditional television.

Specifically, 57% of survey participants expressed worries about the impact of deepfake content, with 27% stating they had encountered it, underscoring the challenges of misinformation in today's media landscape.

Social media is increasingly significant for news consumption, with 52% of U.K. adults utilizing it as a news source, an increase from 47% in the previous year.

Among younger demographics, TikTok has emerged as a major news source, with one-third of teens aged 12-15 relying on it for news.