More Indonesians Are Turning to Social Media for News, WhatsApp and TikTok Lead
Growing Dependence on Social Media
Indonesians are increasingly relying on social media as a source of up-to-date information. This phenomenon was revealed in the annual Digital News Report 2026 released by the Reuters Institute. In a survey conducted between January and February 2026, more than 85,000 respondents from 48 countries, including Indonesia, participated. The results showed that Indonesia is among the countries with the highest levels of news consumption through social media worldwide.
Social Media Overtakes Traditional Information Sources
According to the report, the use of social media and video platforms as the main news sources in Indonesia rose to 48 percent, an increase of 8 percentage points compared to the previous year. Globally, this trend is also evident, with 54 percent of respondents reporting they obtained news from social media and video platforms in the past week. This figure surpasses television usage (52 percent) and news websites (51 percent).
Changes in News Consumption Habits
Over the past five years, this trend has strengthened, with around 30 percent of respondents stating that social media and video platforms are their primary news sources, up from 22 percent in 2021. Additionally, the proportion of people who consume news exclusively through social media has doubled, from 6 percent in 2020 to 12 percent in 2026. This indicates a significant shift in how people access news, with many moving away from traditional media to digital platforms.
WhatsApp and TikTok as Dominant News Sources
In the report, Professor Janet Steele from George Washington University noted that social media has become an integral part of Indonesians' habits in accessing information. Platforms such as WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok are very popular in Indonesia. Interestingly, as many as 64 percent of Indonesians reported getting news from these platforms. Among them, WhatsApp ranks highest as the most dominant news source, with its usage increasing by 13 percentage points compared to the previous year, reaching 56 percent.
With more people choosing social media as their news source, it is certain that this change will continue to influence how we receive information. Amid technological advancements and easier access to various platforms, it is important for us to remain critical in filtering the news we consume.
