Malaysians turn to social media first for news, says report
The Reuters Institute said 69% of respondents used social media for news in 2026, compared with 42% for news websites and 36% for television,while print media collapsed to 14%.
A recent report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism reveals that social media has surpassed television and news websites as the most frequently used news source in Malaysia. In 2026, 69% of Malaysians turned to social media for news, compared to 42% for news websites and 36% for television. This shift is in stark contrast to the decline of print media, which dropped from 45% in 2017 to just 14% in 2026 and television, which fell from 54% to 36% over the same period.
Influencers and content creators, including former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and retired politician Idris Jala, have become increasingly popular sources of news on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. The trust in news media has also significantly declined, falling from 41% in 2021 to just 30% in 2026, indicating a growing skepticism towards traditional news sources.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Malaysians turn to social media first for news, says report freemalaysiatoday.com
