Social media continues to be the top source for news among UAE residents as compared to news websites, apps and television, according to a new YouGov report.
Over 52 percent of UAE residents revealed they receive news from social network websites.
Source of news ranking (age group 35-44):
- Social network website
- News website
- Television
- News app on mobile or tablet
- Radio
According to the survey, more than half of UAE news readers prefer online news content. In a week, on average, over 88 percent of the population spend time reading news digitally.
A whopping seven in 10 people in the country spend over 5 hours using the internet across a range of devices.
Top internet activities:
- Messaging – 55 percent
- Accessing social network webistes – 51 percent
- Accessing news and sports websites – 38 percent
- Downloading games, movies, TV shows, videos and other media – 35 percent
- Streming games, movies, TV shows, videos and other media – 33 percent
Although social network remains as the top source of information for most UAE residents, Facebook tops the list among all. However, over the last two years, Instagram and TikTok has also seen significant growth.
Top social networks:
- YouTube
- TikTok
Facebook has emerged as a top source of entertainment and news for most age groups, but those below the age of 25 revealed that YouTube is the most popular.
Another popular internet activity among the UAE audience is the use of messaging apps, among which WhatsApp is the most used. Over 54 percent of the population said that they use messaging apps and services.
Top messaging services:
- Facebook Messenger
- Telegram
Radio has witnessed a decline in listeners over the last two years dropping from 89 percent to 86 percent while streaming continues to emerge as a popular source.
Top services for music streaming:
- YouTube Music
- Spotify
- Apple Music
The younger audience group in the UAE has revealed interest for podcasts with over 35 percent of Gen Z listening to podcasts for over 6 hours a week. Google Podcast and Spotify emerged as the top sources.
TV screen time has seen a reduction over the past two years with over 70 percent spending less than 10 hours per week watching live TV as compared to 54 percent two years ago.
Video streaming has gone up with 86 percent indicating preference for on-demand TV.
Top video-on-demand services:
- YouTube
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime
- Disney+
- Apple TV
Compared to the general population, Gen Z appears to be spending more time on social media with a whopping 41 percent who spend over 11 hours a week on these platforms.
Most popular social networks among the GenZ population:
- YouTube
- TikTok
The YouGov report highlights the undeniable influence of social media as the leading source of news and entertainment among UAE residents. Social network websites have surpassed traditional news outlets and television, reflecting a significant shift in how people consume information.
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