Research findings have revealed that 32 per cent of Smartphone users access news, and other content on the Internet in their bathroom/toilet.
Digital News Report 2017 published recently shows that over half (56%) of the population studied, use their devices in personal spaces, up substantially from the figure it published two years ago.
“Almost half of smartphone users (46%) access news in bed and 32% read or watch news stories when they are in the bathroom or toilet,” the research finding reveals.
“It is simply more convenient to pick up the device that is always with you, rather than seek out a computer or tablet in another room,” the authors of the report stated.
According to the report, across all countries surveyed, younger groups are much more likely to use social media and digital media as their main source of news, while older groups cling to the habits they grew up with (TV, radio, and print).
It reveals a third of 18-24s (33%) now say social media are their main source of news – that’s more than online news sites (31%) and more than TV news and printed newspapers put together (29%).
The report also revealed that the top ranking social network for news is Facebook with LinkedIn least used.
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Despite the rise of aggregators, social media and search remain the most important gateways to online content, alongside traffic coming to websites and apps.
Video findings reveal that online news scouts consume more videos on social media than on video platforms and news websites.
In the face of rising concerns for fake news, the survey finds a big difference between the news media and social media in their ability to separate fact from fiction.
In countries like the US (38%/20%), Canada (51%/24%), and the UK (41%/18%), people are twice as likely to have faith in the news media. Only in Greece do more people trust social media (19%/28%) but this has more to do with the low opinion of the news media in general than the quality of information in their news feeds.
“The crisis over fake news could be the best thing that has happened to journalism – or the worst. It is certainly focusing minds and wallets. Next year’s chapter in this on-going story will be fascinating to watch,” the report stated.
