• Audiences under 35 prefer Twitter (31%) and Instagram (25%), while adults over 35 favor Facebook (38%) and WhatsApp (34%).

• Four out of ten respondents located on the political right report on an image or video platform (Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok or Twitch) (39%).

• The majority of Twitter (75%), Instagram (63%), Facebook (61%) and TikTok (59%) users consider the volume of news media content they see on these networks to be adequate.

News usage of Facebook (35%) and WhatsApp (32%) slows, although both platforms continue to lead the 2022 social network rankings in Spain for finding, reading, watching, sharing or commenting on news online throughout the week. The use of Facebook for news drops by 4 percentage points and WhatsApp by 3 points when compared to data of 2021. Spanish Internet users again differentiate themselves by getting information on WhatsApp as eight out of ten use this platform for any purpose (84%). The average of the informative dedication to WhatsApp for the 46 countries analyzed in the Digital News Report 2022 is 22%. However, Spaniards do not consume as much news on Facebook (35%) when equated with the average of the rest of the countries (44%). As can be seen, there is a significant difference of 9 percentage points.

Likewise, information consumption via Twitter (19%) and Instagram (17%) stabilizes in 2022. However, Spanish Internet users use Twitter 6 percentage points more compared to average of the 46 countries studied. The informative use of Instagram is similar. Regarding YouTube, the average of the 46 countries (30%) exceeds the use for news in Spain (18%) by 12 percentage points. The informative employment of this platform also slows down with respect to 2021 (21%). The same happens with Facebook Messenger, which moderates as network informative in Spain (4%). As in previous years, there is a representative variation of this instant messaging service when contextualized in the framework of the 46 countries evaluated (11%). In Spain, it is available for news in 7 percentage points less. Telegram for news remains constant in Spain (7%) as in the 46 countries (6%), and decreases by one percentage point compared to 2021.

These trends explain why almost half of those surveyed in Spain consume news on Facebook or Twitter (47%). Something similar occurs in the 46 countries examined (49%). Therefore, both platforms account for a significant part of news consumption on networks. Furthermore, it continues to be relevant that three out of ten Spanish Internet users access news through instant messaging services (36%) (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Telegram). This figure is similar to that of average of the 46 countries (35%). In any case, information consumption via instant messaging will drop by 4 percentage points from reference letter to 2021.

Finally, TikTok (5%), LinkedIn (3%), Pinterest (2%), Twitch (2%), Discord (1%), Snapchat (1%) and Reddit (1%) are not widespread for news consumption in Spain. From this list, the use for news of TikTok barely grows, by 2 percentage points, and Twitch, by 1 point with respect to 2021. Discord, the instant messaging service oriented towards video game communities, also burst onto the scene. It is again B that two out of ten respondents say they do not go to any of the social networks included in the Digital News Report to access online news (21%). This behavior is analogous when equated to the average of the 46 countries in the global report (22%).

Twitter and Instagram, favorite networks for the under-35 crowd

Looking at the age groups of the respondents, it can be seen that the audience under 35 years of age continues to drive information consumption on Twitter (31%) and Instagram (25%). In particular, Twitter grows 5 percentage points in this age group compared to 2021. Internet users under 35 also prefer Telegram (10%) -which grows 3 percentage points in the last year in this age group-, TikTok (8%) and Twitch (5%) to check the news. To a lesser extent, Reddit (3%), Snapchat (2%) and Discord (2%). Hence, almost four out of ten people under 35 years of age use an image or video network such as Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok or Twitch (39%).

It is 18-24 year olds who continue to focus their news per diem expenses on Twitter (38%) and Instagram (33%). This is 19 percentage points more in the first case and 16 percentage points more in the second case on the average of the use of these platforms for news. Young people aged 18-24 also prioritize YouTube (23%), which they use by 5 percentage points more compared to average. However, WhatsApp as a news channel has a lower acceptance in this age group (29%) if compared to average (32%). Nevertheless, and as in the case of Twitter, almost four out of ten 18-24 year olds use instant messaging for news (38%). In this regard, young people opt more for Telegram (13%) -6 percentage points over average of their news use-. Likewise, 18-24 year olds encourage the consumption of current affairs on TikTok (10%) -double the average-, and Twitch (4%) -which also doubles the average-. Other minority networks such as Reddit (4%) and Snapchat (4%) are also driven for news by this profile age group. The described preferences contribute to the fact that almost half of 18-24 year olds are report through an image or video platform (Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok or Twitch) (47%). This behavior surpasses instant messaging as an information channel for young people (38%).

Meanwhile, the 35+ age group continues to favor Facebook (38%) and instant messaging (38%) for information: almost four out of ten. Among messaging services, WhatsApp stands out for accessing news (34%). However, a small regression of the platforms mentioned is reflected in this age group . In any case, adults aged 55 to 64 are characterized by consuming news on Facebook: four out of ten (40%). This is 5 percentage points more than the average of their news use. For their part, adults over 65 put messaging services first to reach news (43%), which they adopt by 7 percentage points over average. Specifically, four out of ten of adults over 65 handle WhatsApp for this activity (41%). That is, 9 percentage points over the average.

Men choose Twitter and YouTube, and women choose Facebook and Instagram.

When considering the gender variable, it is found that men favor the informative use of Twitter (21%) and YouTube (20%). In both cases, this means 4 percentage points more compared to women. Men also opt for Telegram for information (9%), 4 points more compared to women. To a lesser extent, Twitch (3%), Reddit (2%) and Discord (2%) are priority platforms among men. Meanwhile, women consume more news on Facebook (37%) and Instagram (19%). This is a percentage difference of 4 points in the first case and 5 points in the second compared to them.

After combining the variables of gender and age group, grade shows that men under 35 prefer Twitter (32%) for information, while those aged 35 and older opt for instant messaging (39%). Instant messaging is especially popular among men over 65: half of them use it for news (51%). Of these channels, WhatsApp identifies almost half of this gender and age group (48%). Only one in ten of those over 65 use Facebook Messenger for news (10%), although Facebook is a primary information platform for this profile audience (42%). This behavior contrasts with that of men under 35, who four in ten access news via an image or video network such as Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok or Twitch (41%).

Meanwhile, Instagram is the singular information platform for women under 35 years of age (27%), and accounts for 10 percentage points over average. In any case, this gender and age group also accesses current affairs via Twitter (30%); and not so much through TikTok (8%). On the other hand, women aged 35 and older are more on Facebook: four out of ten (40%). This is 5 percentage points above the average of the use of this network for news. Instant messaging is common among women aged 55 to 64 (42%); and specifically WhatsApp (38%) which attends 6 percentage points over average. YouTube has a lower informative acceptance among this gender and age group (23%), which is 5 points over the average. Finally, women aged 65 and older are determined by attending actuality on Pinterest (6%).

High income and high level users educational prefer WhatsApp and LinkedIn

At reference letter , the level of income of the respondents, the informative acceptance of instant messaging services (44%) and LinkedIn (6%) is identified with high-income Internet users. This is a difference of 6 percentage points in the first case and 5 points in the second case when compared to those with an income leave. In particular, the dissatisfaction of WhatsApp (40%) is 8 percentage points; and that of Telegram (9%) is 2 points. The use of Twitch for news is also recognized by people with high income (4%) compared to those with income average (3 percentage points less). For its part, Facebook continues to be associated with average users (38%) -five points above high income-; and, in particular, Facebook Messenger with leave users (7%) -three points above high and middle income-.

Regarding the level educational of those surveyed, instant messaging services (40%) and LinkedIn (5%) are also the most common networks for consuming news among Internet users with a high level educational . Twitter (24%) stands out as the second platform for this profile of users. In fact, the greatest percentage difference is found for Twitter (10 points) when compared to those with a low educational level. Of the messaging channels, three out of ten people of high educational level use WhatsApp for news (35%) (5 points more versus those of low educational level), and almost one out of ten selects Telegram (8%) (2 points more). The difference for LinkedIn is 4 points. Likewise, Facebook's informative employment is again related to Internet users with a low level educational (40%) (12 percentage points more compared to those with a high level educational ). YouTube stands out among those with a medium educational level (21%) (5 percentage points more compared to those with a low educational level). Instagram as an informative platform ceases to be linked to users with a higher level of programs of study.

The public located on the political right is betting on image or video networks.

When looking at the political leanings of the respondents, it can be seen that the public on the right uses instant messaging services more for news: four out of ten (43%). In the case of WhatsApp, it is almost four out of ten (38%). Internet users who declare themselves to be right-wing also go to YouTube (26%) and do so to a greater extent than last year when this platform was linked to the political center public. Likewise, news consumption on Telegram continues to be linked to right-wing users, albeit only in the case of one in ten (10%). Therefore, it is still significant that almost four out of ten people on the political right consume news on an image or video network (Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok or Twitch) (39%).

However, the public that places itself on the political left bets more on the informative use of Twitter (23% or two out of ten). On the other hand, the public that claims to be in the political center is slightly more represented on LinkedIn (3%). It is also noteworthy that almost four out of ten Internet users who consume news on Facebook say they do not know where they stand politically (37%). The same is true for almost three out of ten users who choose other social networks not included in the report Digital News Report to get information (29%). Almost one in ten people who use TikTok (7%) or Discord (2%) do not know how to state their political position either.

Frequency of access to news

grade Regarding the respondents' interest in finding information, it was found that employment of certain networks is positively related to the frequency of access to news. Thus, four out of ten Internet users who consume information through instant messaging (40%) and Facebook (41%) consult the news several times a day. Among them, those who use WhatsApp (35%). Also, two out of ten of Twitter (22%) and YouTube (22%). The predisposition to be informed is more leave in the case of Instagram: several times a week (21%) and several times a day (18%). In this line, two out of ten Internet users who do not resort to the platforms included in the Digital News Report and say they access the news once a day (26%). Finally, one in ten people who do not know the answer to this question only accesses the news several times a week (9%).

Appreciation of media content on the platforms.

Half of the respondents who use Twitter for information say that what they see in their feeds comes from the news media (49%). In particular, almost four out of ten people in the under 35 age group consider the level of this content subject to be high (37%) compared to three out of ten Internet users in general who consider the level to be low (33%) - in particular those in the political center (37%).

A similar evaluation statement is made by respondents who use Facebook for news. Almost half of them state that what they see in their feeds comes from the media (47%). This statement is more significant among leave income internet users (50%) and those located on the political right (50%). In line with Twitter, it is the audience under 45 years old that understands that media content on Facebook is of a high standard: almost four out of ten (39%). Three out of ten of high income (38%) and high level educational (38%) rate it as low.

Instagram's informative appreciation is lower among respondents, with almost three out of ten confirming that what they see in their feeds comes from the media (27%). These are, in particular, the public under 35 years of age (32%), and Internet users in general with an income leave (33%), with a low level educational (32%) and those positioned on the political right (36%). Three out of ten users of this platform claim equally that this subject content reaches a low level (34%) and a high level (33%). People with a high income (39%), those with a high level educational (39%), and those on the political left (38%) and center (37%) are more inclined towards the first assessment; specifically, adults between 55 and 64 years of age (40%). On the other hand, people with an income leave (38%) and those on the political right (37%) opt for the second assessment.

Finally, the informative appreciation of TikTok is even less relevant as only two out of ten respondents say that what they see in their feeds comes from the media (25%). In particular, the income audience leave (30%) and those on the political right (31%). As in the case of Instagram, three out of ten internet users who use TikTok for news perceive the level of this content to be low (34%) as well as high (32%). People with a high level educational opt more for the first assessment (39%); and people with an income leave (41%) and men (40%) for the second.

When assessing the amount of media content seen on the networks, the majority of respondents consider this to be adequate. Seven out of ten people who access news from Twitter say that this content is adequate (75%). This is more relevant for audiences under 35 years old (82%) and those with an average level educational (80%). In contrast, almost one in ten think that media content on Twitter is insufficient (9%) or excessive (8%). Those over 55 stand out for not answering this question (12%).

Likewise, six in ten respondents who use Instagram for news state that the amount of media content on this platform is adequate (63%). This is more characteristic of men under 35 (75%), adults in general aged 55-64 (68%), the income audience leave (68%) and those located on the political right (70%). In addition, 16% do not know how to answer this question - 22% among women aged 45 to 54 -; or feel that the media content is not sufficient (13%) - specifically, those under 35 years of age (17%) and those with high income (18%). Similarly, one in ten Instagram users for news express that media content is too much (8%) -especially women under 35 (14%)-.

In turn, six out of ten respondents who get information on Facebook also say that the media content on network is adequate (61%). In particular, the public under 35 years of age (66%), those with a high level educational (64%) and those who place themselves on the political right (64%). As in the case of Instagram, one in eight Internet users who read and watch news on Facebook ratifies that the media content is excessive (12%). Mainly, these are people of income leave (15%) and of medium level educational (9%). Also, one in eight say that it is insufficient (12%); especially women aged 45 to 54 (17%). In addition, 15% do not answer this question.

Finally, nearly six in ten respondents who use TikTok for news say that the media content on this platform is adequate (59%). This is most telling for audiences under 35 (67%), those with income average (64%) or middle educational (65%), and those on the political left (70%). However, almost two in ten believe that the media content on TikTok is insufficient (18%), especially women aged 35 and older (23%). In addition, one in eight do not know the answer to this question (12%) - mainly men aged 45 and over (18%) and people from the political center (15%). Likewise, one in ten reiterates that the media content on TikTok is excessive (10%). This is more so among men aged 35 and older (17%).