Instagram will overtake Twitter as a source for news

Instagram is likely to overtake Twitter as a source for news within the next year according to the 2020 Reuters Institute Digital News report.

MORE PEOPLE SPENDING TIME ON INSTAGRAM

The usage of the Facebook-owned app for news has doubled across age groups since 2018.

Instagram has expanded to include features like Stories and IGTV now reaches more than a third of those surveyed weekly and two thirds of people under the age of 25.

News is now playing a bigger role on Instagram due to people spending more time on the app.

The report found that 11% of people across age groups use Instagram for news while 12% currently use Twitter for the same purpose.

The survey said more than two thirds of people use their phones to get news weekly and those who use their phones as a primary means of getting the news are more likely to access that information via social networks.

INSTAGRAM POPULARITY RISES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE

In the US, 26% of 18 to 24 year olds used Instagram in April as a source of news about the coronavirus. This is in comparison to Snapchat’s 14% and TikTok’s 11%.

Nic Newman, lead author of the report said, “Instagram’s become very popular with younger people. They really respond well to stories that are told simply and well with visual images.”

There is however still only 26% of people who said they trust social media such as Facebook and Twitter when it comes to news and information about the virus.