Social media main source of information in Cyprus

Cypriots use the social media as the main source of information according to the recent findings of a special Eurobarometer.

The most popular source of information in Cyprus was social media (70 per cent), followed by television (62 per cent), news websites and platforms (52 per cent), and radio (30 per cent), with print media ranking at a mere 10 per cent.

Across the EU, access to news through social media increased by 11 percentage points compared to the last media survey conducted in April-May 2022.

Television remains the dominant news source for EU citizens, with 71 per cent relying on it, followed by news websites and platforms (42 per cent). Radio and social media platforms share the third position at 37 per cent, while print media lags at 21 per cent.

The Ipsos European Public Affairs conducted the survey on behalf of the European Parliament, involving online interviews, with a sample size of 25,956 individuals across the EU, including 510 in Cyprus. The EU-wide results are weighted according to the population size in each country.

Respondents were asked about the types of news they followed in the last seven days, with the majority in the EU selecting local news (50 per cent), national politics (47 per cent), European and international issues (45 per cent), sports (36 per cent), and crimes and accidents (31 per cent).

In Cyprus, the most followed categories in the last seven days were local news (67 per cent), European and international issues (55 per cent), and crime and accidents (39 per cent), followed by sports (37 per cent) and national politics (35 per cent).

While social media use for accessing news increased by 11 points in the EU compared to the 2022 survey, smaller increases were noted in the use of messaging apps (+5), video platforms (+4), and podcasts (+2), trends observed across age groups and most member states.

In the EU, 37 per cent follow influencers or content creators on social media platforms, with rates varying significantly among age groups, from 79 per cent among those aged 15 to 24 to only 14 per cent among those aged 55 and above. In Cyprus, 46 per cent of citizens follow influencers or content creators on social media platforms.

The overwhelming majority of EU respondents follow the news on a daily basis (70 per cent), while 6 per cent avoid specific news topics, and 3 per cent consciously avoid all news. The likelihood of daily news consumption increases with age, while news avoidance is slightly more probable among women, younger individuals, and those with lower education.

Regarding the trustworthiness of different types of media, 48 per cent in the EU trust public television and radio stations the most (including their websites), 38 per cent trust print media (and their websites), and 29 per cent trust private television and radio stations.

Compared to the April-May 2022 survey, trust rates in traditional broadcast and print media remained almost the same. The most significant increases in trust were observed in YouTube and other video platforms (+4) and influencers on social media platforms (+4).

The data was released by the European Parliament on Friday.