• One in three users distribute news through instant messaging services such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or Telegram (35%).

• Nearly four out of ten respondents converse face-to-face with friends and colleagues about current affairs (38%), and half of them on networks such as Facebook or Twitter (19%).

• Young people aged 18 to 24 are the most participative (76%), but adult men aged 65 and over stand out for sharing news (63%) mainly via instant messaging.

• The political center public talks more with friends and colleagues about current affairs face-to-face (42%), while the left-wing public does so most on social networks (23%).

For yet another year, Spanish Internet users continue to be among the most participative of the 46 countries analyzed in the Digital News Report, although participation in online news is settling down in 2022. Nearly seven in ten respondents in Spain share, comment on or rate an online news or news coverage on a weekly basis (69%) (down 2 percentage points from 2021). This figure of 69% is 6 percentage points more than the average participation rate established in the global report (63%). Spain occupies the seventeenth position in the participation ranking together with Portugal (69%) and Bulgaria (69%). Ahead of them are countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia from diverse social, political and cultural contexts. These are Nigeria (91%), Kenya (89%), South Africa (86%), Peru (84%), India (83%), Philippines (82%), Mexico (81%), Colombia (80%), Thailand (78%), Indonesia (77%), Chile (76%), Malaysia (75%), Turkey (75%), Romania (74%), Brazil (72%) and Argentina (71%).

Spanish users continue to excel at sharing news: half of adults with Internet access (49%) do so; this is three percentage points more than in 2021. The average for the rest of the countries is 40%: four out of ten distribute information. On the other hand, Spaniards continue to comment on the news in a similar way to the 46 countries studied: two out of ten (24%). Both in Spain and in the global report , this figure remains the same as last year.

At reference letter , instant messaging remains the most popular way of sharing news online pathway core topic . Three out of ten Internet users use WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or Telegram to distribute information on network (35%). This is two percentage points more than in 2021. When equating Spain with the average of the 46 countries, it corresponds to 12 percentage points more. Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn (24%) and email (12%) are less popular ways of sharing news in Spain. These figures are similar to the average of the global report .

Regarding the ways of conversing about online news, Spanish Internet users continue to talk mainly face-to-face with friends and colleagues. Almost four out of ten do so (38%), which is 3 percentage points higher than average of the 46 countries. Precisely, this subject of participation grows in Spain during the last year and represents 9 percentage points more than in 2021. In addition, one in four users talks to friends and colleagues about current affairs via email, networks and instant messaging (26%). In particular, the option of chatting via social networks such as Facebook or Twitter (19%) persists in a similar way to the other countries. On the other hand, the websites of the news media are not progressing as spaces of participation to talk about current affairs: only 8% go to them to comment. The average for the 46 countries corresponds to a similar figure (10%).

Other online participation activities also persist, such as the task of rating a news item or marking it as 'like' or 'favorite'. This is common for one in four Internet users in Spain (23%), four percentage points above average of the 46 countries. The option to vote in an online survey on a news site or social network only attracts 15% of users. Participation in a campaign or group on a current topic is even less frequent (5%).

Finally, as last year, it is significant that two out of ten respondents in Spain continue not to use the participation activities mentioned (21%). This behavior is even more common for average of the 46 countries.

An analysis of age groups shows that young people aged 18 to 24 are the most participative audience in general terms (76%). However, online news sharing activity is growing among adults aged 55 to 64: almost six out of ten (57%). That's 4 percentage points more than in 2021. Specifically, adults over 55 continue to distribute information through a social network such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn (28%). Meanwhile, adults aged 65 and older continue to share news via instant messaging, such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger (43%) and email (20%).

It is the task of commenting on the news that stands out among young audiences. Half of 18-24 year olds talk face-to-face with friends and colleagues (52%), and one in three via email, social networks and instant messaging (33%). For their part, adults aged 65 and over choose a social network (Facebook or Twitter) to comment on current events (22%). Finally, adults over 65 also differentiate themselves by rating a news item or marking it as a 'like' or 'favorite' (29%) and voting on an online survey on a news media website or a social network (23%). Young people aged 18-24 are the most likely to participate in a campaign or group around a journalistic issue (9%).

With respect to gender, the trend is reversed in 2022, with men becoming more participative than women: seven out of ten (71%). This is 4 percentage points more. This distinction is especially noticeable for the activity of commenting on online news. Men (26%) talk slightly more about current affairs than women (21%). Nearly three in ten of them converse with friends and colleagues via email, a social network and instant messaging (28%). This amounts to 4 percentage points more when compared to women. Men are also more likely to share news via email (16%), up 7 points; and vote on an online survey website or social network (17%), up 3 points. On the other hand, two out of ten women say they do not use any of the participation methods described above (24%). This is 3 percentage points above the average and 6 points when compared to them.

When combining age groups and gender, there is a high participation of adult men over 65 years of age (75%) and those under 35 years of age (75%): three out of four. Men over 65 years of age are the ones who share the news the most: 63%. To do so, this age and gender group uses instant messaging (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger) (46%), a social network (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) (30%) and email (26%). Although to a lesser extent, men over 65 also differentiate themselves by rating or marking as 'like' or 'favorite' news (32%); and voting on an online survey on a website or a social network (29%).

Likewise, the task of commenting on the news predominates among adult men, albeit among those aged 55 to 64: almost three in ten (29%). In particular, four out of ten chat with friends and colleagues face-to-face about the news (43%). Men aged 55 to 64 also chat about current affairs on a social network (Facebook or Twitter) (24%), something also done by adult women over 65 (24%). Participating in the news site is more popular among men over 65 years of age (10%). Meanwhile, men under 45 favor e-mail, social networks and instant messaging to discuss news with friends and colleagues (31%). Finally, a third of women aged 65 and over say they do not use any of the aforementioned modes of participation (34%).

When looking at the level of economic income, respondents with a high income are defined as being more participative (77%) when compared to those with an income of leave (70%) and the general participation average (69%). This relationship is more evident for the activity of sharing news compared to the task of commenting on it. Thus, six out of ten high-income Internet users (60%) distribute information compared to almost five out of ten leave (48%) and five out of ten average (50%). High-income individuals use instant messaging (45%, which is 13 percentage points more than those on leave); and e-mail (16%, which is 5 percentage points more).

Similarly, high-income users talk more with friends and colleagues about current affairs: four in ten do so face-to-face (45%, which is 15 percentage points more than low-income people leave); three in ten use email, social networks and instant messaging (31%, which is 8 percentage points more); and one in ten opt for a news media website (12%, which is 4 percentage points more). High-income users are also recognized for voting on an online survey of a website or a social network : two out of ten (21%, which is 7 percentage points higher than low-income users). Finally, two out of ten leave (22%) and average (21%) users do not use any of the above-mentioned participation methods.

Likewise, respondents with a high educational level are more participative (75%) when compared to those with a low educational level (64%) and the general average participation level (69%). This distinction is also more significant for the activity of sharing news: almost six out of ten Internet users with a high educational level (57%, which is 12 percentage points more than those with a low educational level). In particular, these users share information via instant messaging (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger) (42%, which is 12 percentage points more than those with a low level educational ) and email (15%, which is 6 percentage points more).

Internet users with a high educational level are equally determined to talk to friends and colleagues face-to-face about current affairs: four out of ten (41%, which is 7 percentage points more than those with a low educational level). Also, by talking about them via email, social networks and instant messaging (32%, which is 9 percentage points higher than those at educational low); and voting in an online survey on a website or network social (18%, which is 5 percentage points higher). Finally, two out of ten respondents with a low educational level say that they do not use any of the referenced participation activities (26%).

When looking at the political leanings of the respondents, grade shows that the public on the right participates more: three out of four (75%). This represents 6 percentage points over the general participation rate of average , 3 points more than those on the left, and 5 points more than those in the center. However, both right-wing and left-wing Internet users share news equally: slightly more than half (54% in the first case and 53% in the second). Users in the political center do this activity slightly less (51%).

The left-leaning public is once again distinguished this year by its participation in social networks. On the one hand, almost three out of ten distribute information via networks (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) (29%, which is 3 percentage points more than right-wing users). On the other hand, almost three out of ten comment on current affairs (27%). This is 3 percentage points over the general average of commenting, 4 points over centrist users, and 2 points over right-wing users. Of the options for commenting, left-wing Internet users prioritize social networks (Facebook or Twitter) (23%, which is 5 points more than those of the political center and 3 points more than those on the right). The left-wing public also stands out for rating or marking as 'like' or 'favorite' the news (26%, which is 4 percentage points above center users).

On the other hand, the public in the political center talks more about news face to face with friends and colleagues: four out of ten (42%, which is 4 percentage points more than average and 7 points more than right-wing users). Internet users in the center also share news via e-mail to a greater extent (15%, which is 4 points more than those on the left).

As in previous years, respondents who do not define themselves politically ('don't know') are less participative (52%) when compared to those who do (69%), regardless of their political leanings. Almost four out of ten respondents who do not know how to define themselves politically state that they do not use any of the participation modalities included in the Digital News Report (39%). This is 18 percentage points above the average of this response.

Finally, it is again confirmed that online participation is positively related to the frequency of access to the news. Thus, three out of four respondents who access the news several times a day participate around the news (76%). This is 7 percentage points above the general average participation rate. This guideline is verified for the actions of sharing news and commenting on news. Specifically, slightly more than half of the Internet users who consult the news several times a day distribute information by some means (56%). This is 7 percentage points more than average for sharing. Likewise, three out of ten users who check the news several times a day also comment on it (30%). This is 6 points more than average for this commenting activity.