Most Australians under 25 have never used newspapers or radio as a source of news, survey finds

The majority of Australian adults under 25 have never used newspapers or radio as a source of news, according to the 2026 Digital News Report which tracks the changing habits of news consumers. However, overall interest in news has increased, in particular among women and young people, after years of decline. Since 2024, the interest of 18 to 24-year-olds in news has risen sharply (+12) to 47%. Interest in politics has also risen among people under 35, who now have higher levels of political interest than older cohorts for the first time. A survey by the News and Media Research Centre at the University of Canberra found 40% of all Australians who used to get their news from newspapers and radio have stopped using the traditional media platforms while 60% of 18 to 24-year-olds have never used newspapers as a source of news. Radio has never been a source of news for 53% of under-25s and TV has never been a source of news for 25% of that demographic. The long-term trend is away from traditional forms of media such as TV and radio news bulletins and daily newspapers to new media. TV is hanging on as the main source of news (57%) but is followed closely by social media (56%) and online news (52%). As social media, including Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, grows as a main source of news, creators and influencers are increasingly interpreting the news for their followers. Almost half (48%, +12) of 18 to 24-year-olds use TikTok for news.