Measuring how the French access information in 2026 reveals clear shifts in usage. The television news, social networks, news sites, and video platforms no longer attract the same audiences as they did five years ago. For anyone looking to stay informed daily, understanding these movements allows for more discerning source selection.
Video platforms versus television: the figures of the shift
The Digital News Report 2026 from the Reuters Institute presents an unprecedented finding. For the first time since the start of this annual measurement, social and video platforms surpass television as the primary source of information globally.
The table below summarizes the audience shares measured by the Reuters Institute:
| Source of information | Global audience share (2026) |
|---|---|
| Social networks and video platforms | About 54 % |
| Television | About 52 % |
| News sites and applications | About 51 % |
The gap remains narrow, but the trend marks a break. Television had dominated this ranking uninterrupted since the report’s inception. News sites and applications, on the other hand, find themselves in third place for the first time.
This shift does not mean that television is disappearing from the landscape. It reflects a movement towards shorter formats, accessible on mobile, often produced by independent creators rather than traditional newsrooms. To keep up with the latest news, an increasing share of the public now prefers a TikTok feed or a YouTube channel over a 20-minute news program.
French trust: the news bulletin holds firm, YouTube surpasses radio
Global data does not always reflect French specifics. A study conducted by the agency 3icom with OpinionWay in August 2026 provides local insight. The television news remains the source deemed most credible by the French, with 29 % of declared trust.
The notable finding of this survey lies elsewhere. YouTube now inspires more trust than radio as a source of information in France. This result disrupts a hierarchy that seemed stable for decades, where radio held a special place in perceived credibility.
Several factors explain this movement. Long-format video on YouTube allows creators to source, contextualize, and develop a topic over a duration that neither an Instagram post nor a tweet can provide. This depth of treatment, combined with the perceived transparency of the face-to-camera format, fosters a sense of reliability among younger audiences. Platforms like Daily Live aggregate these continuous news flows to offer a quick overview of the day’s topics.
News in France and the world: the topics that shape the agenda
Beyond the channels, the nature of the topics followed daily is also evolving. In September 2026, several themes capture attention in France and internationally.
Public debt and budget: record projections
French public debt is expected to exceed 121 % of GDP in 2027 according to recent budget projections. This figure, reported by several national media, fuels a debate on the sustainability of public finances and the trade-offs of the upcoming budget.
Geopolitics: Greenland and Ukraine
Donald Trump announced that he has obtained “permanent control” over Greenland’s security, a statement that rekindles tensions with Denmark. Strikes continue in eastern Ukraine, keeping this conflict at the center of the international agenda.
Filtering daily information: criteria for selecting sources
In the face of the multiplication of channels, the main risk is no longer a lack of information but its abundance. A few concrete criteria help sort through it:
- Check if the media cites its primary sources (official report, press release, legal document) rather than paraphrasing another article
- Distinguish raw facts (a figure published by INSEE, an official statement) from analyses and opinions, often presented in the same flow
- Cross-check at least two independent sources before considering information as established, especially on geopolitical topics where misinformation circulates quickly
- Favor formats that allow time for context (long video, in-depth article) for complex subjects like the budget or international conflicts
The OpinionWay/3icom study also shows that trust varies significantly by age and channel used. This generational divide implies that “staying informed” no longer denotes the same practice depending on the audience concerned.
The shift measured by the Reuters Institute in 2026 is not a statistical accident. It reflects a structural transformation where platforms capture attention before traditional media. However, the credibility of the news bulletin in France reminds us that audience and trust do not always follow the same curve. The daily sorting between sources remains the only skill that cannot be delegated to any algorithm.
