Overview
The lecture discusses findings from the 2024 Reuters Institute Digital News Report for the Philippines, highlighting changing trends in news consumption, shifts in platform usage, and concerns about misinformation and trust.
Decline of Traditional Social Media for News
- Facebook usage for news in the Philippines dropped from 72% to 61% in one year, above the global average decline.
- Other platforms also declined: YouTube (45%, -10 points), Messenger (26%, -7), and X/Twitter (9%, -7).
- Decline is more significant among ages 18-24: Facebook (71% to 56%), YouTube (47% to 33%).
Rise of TikTok and Fragmented News Sources
- TikTok news usage in the Philippines rose from 21% to 23%, with the 18-24 group increasing from 3% to 30% since 2020.
- The Philippines is among the top 10 global markets for TikTok as a news source.
- Personalized video networks and messaging apps are driving more fragmented, engaging news experiences.
Changing Content Preferences and Platforms
- Overall online/social media news access dropped from 85% to 82%, with social media news specifically down 7 points to 63%.
- Short online news videos are very popular: 8 in 10 Filipinos watch them weekly (higher than global average).
- Hard news is preferred for short videos (67%); international news is the top topic (48%).
Influencers, Journalists, and News Sources
- On Facebook and TikTok, influencers and celebrities are now more prominent news sources than journalists.
- Mainstream journalists lead on X and YouTube, but not on TikTok or Instagram.
- Young people (18-24) increasingly access alternative media and politicians as news sources.
AI and News Consumption
- Younger Filipinos are more aware of AI in news, but most are uncomfortable with AI-generated content on hard news topics.
- Comfort is higher for AI assisting with technical newsroom tasks.
Interest, Avoidance, and Needs in News
- Only 46% of Filipinos are highly interested in news (down from 52%).
- News avoidance is common (47%), above the global average.
- Filipinos value staying updated, gaining knowledge, and feeling better about the world from news.
Misinformation, Trust, and Identifying Reliable News
- 63% of Filipinos are concerned about online misinformation, higher than the global average.
- Main topics of misinformation: politics, COVID-19, economics, and climate change.
- Trust in news remains stable (37%), but distinguishing trustworthy news is still challenging for many.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Digital News Report (DNR) — Annual global study of news consumption trends by the Reuters Institute.
- Legacy Social Media — Older, established platforms like Facebook and Twitter (now X).
- Short News Videos — Brief, easily consumable video news content, popular among younger audiences.
- Influencers — Individuals with significant online followings who shape audience opinions.
- Misinformation — False or misleading information, often spread intentionally or unintentionally.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review short online news videos and their role in shaping news preferences.
- Reflect on how misinformation affects personal news consumption.
- Consider alternative and emerging news sources beyond traditional social media platforms.