{
  "id": 6930811,
  "title": "Social media overtakes TV, news websites as Malaysians’ main source of news",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/social-media-overtakes-tv-news-websites-as-malaysians-main-source-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/12/social-media-overtakes-tv-news-websites-as-malaysians-main-source-of-news/234932"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — In Malaysia, the landscape of news consumption has undergone a significant transformation, with social media now overtaking television and news websites as the primary source of news. This shift is highlighted in the 2026 edition of the annual Digital News Report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Across the 48 markets surveyed, social media edged out television at 54 per cent, while news websites followed at 51 per cent. The dominance of social media reflects a decline in television and news websites rather than a surge in its own reach. Malaysia's shift is even more pronounced, with nearly 70 per cent of respondents using social media for news in 2026, compared to 42 per cent for news websites and 36 per cent for television. The decline of established news channels is evident, as news website use dropped by 24 percentage points and television by 18 points over the decade. Print media experienced the steepest decline at 31 points. Radio remains a smaller and more volatile source, standing at 23 per cent in 2026. Interestingly, AI chatbot use increased slightly to 11 per cent in 2026, while podcast use remained at 8 per cent. Despite these minor changes, social media serves not only as a primary source for news but also as the main route through which Malaysians discover it, with 63 per cent discovering news via social media in 2026, compared to 44 per cent through search engines and just 27 per cent through direct visits to news websites and apps. The change in news consumption extends beyond just traditional to digital media, as social media now plays a dual role as both a source and discovery platform. Platforms such as WhatsApp and video content on sites like TikTok are gaining traction, with TikTok's usage surging to 45 per cent in 2026, up from just 2 per cent in 2019, and YouTube growing from 26 per cent to 41 per cent over the same period. This shift points to video becoming a significant part of how Malaysians consume, watch, and share news. Additionally, there are concerns about how accurately users verify the news they consume. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's Internet Users Survey 2024 revealed that while 61.5 per cent of internet users shared news, only 70.7 per cent checked its validity and source reliability, showing a decline from 79.2 per cent in 2024. This growing reliance on automated or platform-based fact-checking highlights the increasing challenge of distinguishing accurate news from misinformation, particularly political and health-related content. While social media usage is widespread across all age groups, older Malaysians (aged 55 and above) still show higher engagement with traditional news sources like news websites, television, radio, and print compared to younger generations. In contrast, younger Malaysians are more likely to engage with newer formats such as AI chatbots and podcasts. AI chatbot usage, for instance, was highest among those aged 18 to 24 at 21 per cent, with only 6 per cent of those aged 45 and above using them. Similarly, podcast usage showed a similar pattern, with younger respondents leading the way. However, gender differences were more noticeable in some traditional news sources. News website usage was higher among men at 48 per cent compared to 36 per cent among women, while podcast usage showed a wider gap, with 10 per cent of men using them compared to 6 per cent of women. These findings indicate that while social media and newer formats are increasingly shaping how news is consumed and discovered in Malaysia, traditional sources still hold significant importance, particularly among older demographics.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — News consumption has reached a turning point: social media now edges television...",
  "key_points": [
    "Social media now primary news source in Malaysia, overtaking TV and news websites",
    "70% Malaysians use social media for news in 2026, up from 42% for news websites",
    "AI chatbot and podcast use increasing among younger Malaysians"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Social media overtakes TV, news websites as Malaysians’ main source of news",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/social-media-overtakes-tv-news-websites-as-malaysians-main-source-of-6931626",
        "published": "2026-09-12T13:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}