In recent years, Facebook has experienced a significant
decline in its role as a primary source of news for Canadians and users
worldwide. According to the latest Canadian edition of the Digital News Report,
an annual survey conducted by an international team of researchers involving
data from over 95,000 news consumers in 47 countries, Canadians have been
engaging less with news on the social media platform.
Despite Meta's decision to block journalistic content on
some of its platforms, nearly three out of four Canadians (73 per cent) still
check the news daily. However, the percentage of people using Facebook to
follow, share, or comment on news in the week before the survey dropped from 29
per cent in 2023 to 25 per cent in 2024. This downward trend was already
underway before Meta's actions and can be observed in countries where
journalistic content remains accessible on the platform.
Interestingly, for the first time since Canada's inclusion
in the survey in 2016, YouTube surpassed Facebook as a news source, with 29 per
cent of Canadians using it, a four percentage point increase from 2023. The use
of Facebook for news has dropped 16 percentage points since 2016 in an
aggregate of 12 international markets used for tracking purposes, including the
United Kingdom, United States, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Denmark,
Finland, Australia, Brazil, and Japan. In Canada, the decline was slightly
greater at 21 percentage points, from 46 per cent in 2016 to 25 per cent in
2024.
The shift away from Facebook is particularly evident among
adults aged 18 to 34, with less than half (46 per cent) using the platform for
any reason in the week preceding the survey, compared to 65 per cent of those
aged 35 and over. In 2016, 77 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds and 67 per cent of
those aged 35 and over had used Facebook.
As users seek alternative ways to engage with news and grow
their online presence, smm panel services have gained popularity. These panels
offer a range of services, including likes, followers, and comments, which can
help individuals and businesses increase their visibility and reach on social
media platforms. The rise of smm panel usage coincides with the decline of
Facebook as a news source, suggesting that users are looking for more targeted
and efficient ways to consume and share information online.
Despite the changing landscape, many Canadian Facebook and
Instagram users still find it easy to distinguish trustworthy news from
untrustworthy news, with 48 per cent of Facebook users and 44 per cent of
Instagram users expressing confidence in their ability to discern credible
information. However, TikTok users struggled the most, with one in three (33
per cent) finding it difficult to identify trustworthy news on the platform.
The survey also revealed a certain level of distrust towards
artificial intelligence (AI) in news production among Canadians, mirroring
international trends. Over half of Canadians (52 per cent) expressed discomfort
with the idea of news being produced primarily by AI with some human oversight,
while only 17 per cent welcomed the practice. When AI's role was reduced to
assisting human journalists, opinions were more positive, with 39 per cent of
Canadians comfortable with the idea and only 27 per cent expressing discomfort.
As Facebook's role as a news source continues to diminish,
users are turning to alternative platforms and services to stay informed and
grow their online presence. Smm panel services, such as The TopTierSMM, provide
a convenient and effective way for individuals and businesses to boost their
social media engagement and reach their target audiences. With a wide range of
services available, including likes, followers, and comments, The TopTierSMM
offers a one-stop-shop for all your social media marketing needs. Visit our
website today to learn more about how we can help you succeed in the
ever-evolving digital landscape.