Where do you get your news?
A study reveals differences between seniors and younger adults when it comes to staying informed.
Who do you trust?
According to ACMA, the most trusted news organisations in Australia are the public broadcasters and local newspapers.
The ABC (about 60% trust) and SBS (about 59%) top the rankings, although overall trust has declined in recent years.
Local and regional newspapers collectively rank highly (around 58% trust), often outperforming major commercial outlets.
Older Australians remain among the most loyal consumers of traditional news, even as digital platforms continue to grow.
The 2026 global Digital News Report and related Australian research highlight a clear generational divide. While younger audiences are embracing social media and online influencers, older people continue to rely heavily on television, radio, and newspapers.
The results were based on a survey conducted by YouGov using an online questionnaire between 9 January and 6 February this year.
Television remains the cornerstone of news for older Australians. Across the population, TV is still the single most widely used news source, reaching a majority of adults, and it retains particular strength among older age groups.
Among Australians aged 75 and over, free-to-air television is significantly more likely to be a main source of news than social media or online platforms. This reflects long-established viewing habits and the perceived reliability of scheduled news bulletins produced by trusted broadcasters.
Print newspapers also continue to play a role for older audiences, despite a broader decline in readership.
More than half of Australians aged 75 and over reported reading a print newspaper in a given week – a figure dramatically higher than among younger people.
This enduring connection to print underscores both habit and trust, as newspapers are often seen as more authoritative than digital alternatives.
Radio remains another important traditional platform, particularly for older Australians who value its accessibility and companionship. While younger people increasingly bypass radio altogether, it still forms part of a daily news routine for many older listeners, often complementing television and print rather than replacing them.
However, older Australians are not completely insulated from digital change. Increasing numbers are accessing news online, and many are active on social media – particularly Facebook, which has become the dominant platform for news across age groups.
More than 70% of Australians over 65 use social media to some extent, often to stay connected with family and community, and this usage can include encountering news content. Still, their engagement with social media tends to be more selective and less news-focused than that of younger users.
The broader shift described in the 2026 Digital News Report – towards “platformisation”, where social media and video networks rival or surpass traditional outlets – has not yet fully reshaped older Australians’ habits.
Related reading: The Guardian, ACMA, Reuters Institute, University of Canberra
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