TikTok takes over as a news source for children

A report by Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has found that TikTok is now the most popular source of news for 12-15-year-olds, followed by YouTube and Instagram.

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Ofcom’s News Consumption in the UK 2022/23 report - published today - found that the Chinese-owned app’s popularity as a source of news is growing, with one in every 10 adults using it to keep up with the latest headlines.

For the first time, the regulator’s annual report found that TikTok has overtaken BBC Radio 1 and Channel 5 as a news source.

But “despite the rise TikTok, 45% of 12 to 15-year-olds said they were not interested in the news - with almost half saying they found it ‘too boring’”, pointed out Sky News. “A further 16% said they found it ‘too upsetting’.”

What else did the report find?

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and BBC One are the top five most popular news sources among 16-24-year-olds, with the latter the only traditional media source on the list.

Ofcom also found that older teens and young adults are much more likely to consume news online than adults generally (83% vs. 68%) and usually via social media on their phones (63% vs. 39%).

Did more traditional media get a look in?

Yep - BBC One held its position as the most-used single news source across all platforms for adults, followed by ITV 1 and then Facebook. Almost half (49%) of those aged 16+ said they used the channel for news - although this was down from 53% in 2022 and 56% in 2020.

What’s the bigger picture?

Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith described the news about TikTok as “immensely dangerous”, adding that the app is “under the control of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party]”.

A similar view was echoed by Tory MP and former children’s minister Tim Loughton, who told The Telegraph: “Western TikTok is banned in China itself because of the harmful impact it can have, and yet we do nothing in the UK to counter the addictive and potentially damaging effect it can have on our children.”

Do you get your news from TikTok - and have you seen The Know’s daily news updates there? Email hello@theknowmedia.co to share your thoughts.