According to the annual report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, social media has now become the primary source of information worldwide, surpassing television. This shift is reshaping how everyone follows the news on a daily basis. Between on-demand video, new consumption habits, and the reconfiguration of the French media landscape, here are the trends that really matter right now.
Social Media and Information: Why the Shift Changes Everything
Have you noticed that your TikTok or YouTube feed sometimes informs you faster than a TV news broadcast? This reflex has become the norm. According to the Reuters report, social media is now the world’s leading source of information, ahead of television and news websites.
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In practical terms, this means that Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok are no longer just for entertainment. They shape what millions of people consider to be “the news of the day.” Traditional media, on the other hand, continue to present themselves as the center of information, without always integrating this reality into their operations.
For those who want to keep up with the latest trends and news without limiting themselves to a single channel, it becomes useful to discover news on Citizens News in addition to their usual sources.
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This transition does not only affect young people. Audience studies show that all age groups are increasing their time spent on video platforms, even if those over 50 remain more attached to linear television.
Replay and On-Demand Video: The New Way to Follow the News in France
Live broadcasts have long been the king format of information. People would turn on the television at a fixed time for the news. This ritual is gradually fading in favor of replay and on-demand video.
By the first quarter of 2026, more than three out of four French people watch replay content each month, an increase compared to the previous year. This figure, derived from Médiamétrie measurements, illustrates a profound change: news is no longer consumed in real-time but at the time chosen by the viewer.
Why this shift? Several reasons combine:
- Streaming platforms allow users to find a report or news program at any time, without depending on a programming schedule.
- Short formats (video summaries of two to five minutes) are better suited for breaks during the day than a thirty-minute news program.
- Social media algorithms push clips of shows to users, who then watch them in full on the channels’ websites.
This evolution also changes the very definition of “what makes the news.” A topic can go viral three days after its initial broadcast, simply because it circulates in replay on social media. The news cycle is lengthening instead of accelerating.
Audience Measurement: Merging TV, Streaming, and Social Media into One Indicator
To understand current trends, one must also look at how audience measurement is conducted. The TGI France study from October 2024 merged traditional television, streaming platforms, and social media videos into a single aggregate called “TV and Video”. Similarly, radio, web radios, podcasts, and music streaming are grouped under the label “Radio and Audio.”
What does this change in practice? Previously, watching a report on YouTube and watching the same report on France 2 were counted separately. Now, these two viewings fall into the same category.
What This Merger Reveals About Our Habits
This new framework shows that the boundary between television and online video no longer exists for the public. A French person who watches a clip from the 8 PM news on their phone via Instagram does not consider themselves a “TV viewer.” They no longer distinguish the medium; they consume video content without differentiating the channels.
For advertisers and media, this merger forces a rethinking of strategies. A program that has low live viewership but accumulates millions of views in replay and on social media is no longer a failure. It’s a success measured differently.
Media Trends in France: What Distinguishes the French Audience
France has particularities in this global landscape. The rate of consumption of preview or replay programs reaches some of the highest levels in Europe, with about 85% of French people watching at least one program on delay each month in the first quarter of 2026.
The relationship between trust and distrust in the media remains a structuring issue. Major French newsrooms continue to attract a loyal readership on their sites and apps, but the share of the audience arriving via social media (and not through direct access) is constantly increasing.
The Growing Role of Short Video
Short formats, popularized by TikTok and then adopted by Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, are no longer just for entertainment. An increasing number of French newsrooms are producing news summaries in under two minutes, tailored to these formats.
This is not a gimmick. These short videos often become the first contact a reader has with a topic before they delve deeper (or not) on a traditional news site. The typical information journey in 2026 looks like this:
- Discovery of a topic via a short video on a social network.
- Quick verification on a news site or aggregator.
- Possible deepening in replay or long reading, often in the evening.
This three-step journey explains why media that invest in both short video and in-depth content capture attention better than those that limit themselves to a single format.
The media trends of 2026 outline a landscape where the medium matters less than the moment and the format. Information does not disappear; it changes its path to reach the reader. Following these developments allows for better source selection and prevents being trapped in a single news bubble.