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Preferred information sources for social and political current affairs

This table shows the percentage of people who prefer to get their information about social and political current affairs from the sources listed. TV remains the dominant medium, with 71% of respondents identifying it as a primary source. A significant secondary cluster of sources is closely followed, with nearly equal preference levels: radio (43%), the printed or online press (41%), search engines (40%), social media platforms (40%) and personal networks such as friends and family (40%). Digital-specific and emerging formats are less popular overall, with video platforms cited by 26% of respondents, followed by podcasts (15%) and AI chatbots (9%). Formal institutional sources, such as school teachers or university lecturers, are among the least popular options, with a mere 6% preference. The data indicates a clear hierarchy in which traditional broadcast media still lead, while a broad range of digital and interpersonal sources have consolidated around a 40% share of public preference.

Source: Flash Eurobarometer Social Media Survey 2025, 2025
Topic: Usage Patterns
Reference year: 2025
Geographical scope: European Union
Method: data collection
Unit of measurement: Percent (%)
Link to original document: europa.eu

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