Young people haven’t stopped consuming news, but they have completely changed how they do it. New research from the Reuters Institute shows a decisive shift in habits, expectations and platforms among 18-24-year-olds. For communicators, these changes are more than trends: they’re a roadmap for how to stay relevant in a fast-moving media landscape.

Below, we break down the five key insights from the report – and what they mean for organisations trying to reach younger audiences.

1. Social platforms have overtaken traditional news gateways

A decade ago, young people actively sought out news on websites and apps. Today, news finds them – usually while they’re scrolling for something else.

Young audiences now encounter news more incidentally and less intentionally. They rarely go directly to news websites, and their connection to specific news brands is weaker as a result. This shift means communicators can no longer rely on audiences coming to them. Instead, content must be designed to meet young people where they already are in feeds, not on homepages.

2. Instagram, YouTube and TikTok dominate the news diet

Visual platforms have become the new front page. Instagram, YouTube and TikTok now play a central role in how young people access news, overtaking platforms like Facebook that once dominated their attention. TikTok’s rise is especially striking, reshaping expectations around tone, pace and storytelling.

These platforms reward short, visual, personality-driven content. For communicators, this means thinking in video, not text, and creating content that feels native to each platform rather than repurposed from traditional formats.

3. Video and audio are rising – but reading still matters

Young people consume more video and audio than older groups, but reading hasn’t disappeared. Short-form video is now a core part of how they understand the world, and podcasts have become a regular part of their media routines. Yet reading remains important, especially for depth and context.

The key insight is that young audiences want choice. They move fluidly between formats depending on time, mood and context. Communicators need to think in multi-format storytelling, not single-channel output.

4. Trust and interest in news are lower among young audiences

This generation is not disengaged, but they are more selective and more sceptical.

Young people express lower trust in news than older groups and show less interest in traditional news topics. Many say the news feels overwhelming, irrelevant or difficult to follow. This isn’t apathy. It’s a signal that traditional news often fails to connect with their lived experiences. Communicators must prioritise clarity, relevance and tone – and avoid assuming that younger audiences will “age into” traditional news habits.

5. Young people are early adopters of AI for news

AI is not a future trend – it’s already part of how young people navigate information.

They use chatbots to simplify complex stories, check sources and make sense of issues that feel inaccessible. They are also far more comfortable with AI-assisted journalism than older audiences. For communicators, this opens new opportunities: AI-ready formats, clearer explanations and content that anticipates the need for simplification.

What this means for communicators

Reaching young audiences requires more than posting on new platforms. It demands a shift in mindset:

• Meet them where they are – on social-first, visual platforms.
• Design for speed and clarity – short videos, clean visuals, jargon-free language.
• Build trust through transparency – explain your process, show your sources, be human.
• Experiment with AI – both as a tool for production and as a format young people already use.
• Think multi-format – video, audio, text and interactive content working together.

Young people aren’t rejecting news, they’re redefining it. Organisations that adapt to their habits and expectations will be best placed to connect with the next generation of informed citizens.