Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025: India Findings
Why in the news
The Digital News Report 2025 from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism shows traditional news losing ground to social platforms, influencers and AI, with India a prominent example.
Key facts
| Theme | Finding |
|---|---|
| Survey base | 100,000 respondents, 48 countries |
| News avoidance | India fourth globally; 50% of English-speaking internet users sometimes or always avoid news |
| Young audiences | 41% of 18-34 year-olds rely mainly on social media and YouTube |
| Global trust in news | Flat at 40% |
| Misinformation | 11% of Indians see friends and family as spreaders of fake news |
| AI | 44% comfortable with AI in news; nearly 20% use AI chatbots weekly |
- Influencers on YouTube and other platforms are displacing legacy broadcasters and print, offering both pro- and anti-government views.
- Watching news rather than reading it is growing, notably in India, the Philippines, Thailand and Kenya.
- The India sample is digitally connected and English-literate, so it may not reflect the whole population.
Implications
- Legacy media must adapt to visual, interactive formats.
- Stronger regulation, content curation and digital literacy are needed as AI and influencers spread both credible and unverified claims.
Exam angle
- Publisher: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.
- Numbers: 48 countries, 100,000 respondents, 40% trust.