Ofcom claims TikTok is the primary source of news for teenagers

Ofcom’s new research claims that TikTok is the primary and most popular source of news for the age group between 12 to15-year-olds.

The UK's communications watchdog claims that for 12 to 15-year-olds, TikTok has overtaken other news sources in popularity.

According to Ofcom's most recent report on news consumption in the UK, TikTok, the algorithm driven viral video app, is now used more frequently than any other platform by young teenagers to get their news, followed by YouTube and Instagram.

TikTok's popularity is fueled by an effective search feature that has turned the app into a captivating platform for young as well as older users and a potent algorithm that curates what people see on their screens.

According to the study, TikTok now accounts for 28% of all news consumption among kids aged 12 to 15 years old, with YouTube and Instagram coming in at 25% each.

According to research by Ofcom, people aged 16 to 24 are 30% more likely than adults to access social media on their phones for news, and they are also more likely to access news online. According to the study, teens in this age group are less likely than adults to visit traditional news websites (6% vs. 26%) and are more likely to use social media. For instance, 44% of young people use Instagram as their primary news source.

The study also revealed that TikTok has grown in popularity among adults as a news source, with one in ten adult users.