News Consumption Shifts Dramatically Towards Social Media and Influencers

Since October 7th, news consumption in Israel has intensified, with a significant portion of the public relying on social media platforms and independent news creators. A survey by the Israeli Internet Association and the Technion's Science Communication Research Group revealed that 61% of adult internet users in Israel consume news frequently through news organizations' websites and apps, and 58% through social networks, surpassing television at 48%.

The shift is particularly evident in the rise of independent channels, such as Daniel Amram with over 640,000 Telegram subscribers, and Aharon Yedioth, run by 20-year-old Aharon Cohen, who has over 200,000 followers. In this model, the feed itself is the product, and the personality often becomes the brand, with audiences acting as a source network for documentation and testimonies.

This trend is not unique to Israel. A Reuters Institute study found that 52% of 18-24 year olds globally use video platforms and chatbots as their primary news source. Among young social media news consumers, 51% pay attention to online news creators and personalities, compared to 39% who follow traditional media brands and journalists. In the United States, Pew data indicates that approximately 38% of 18-29 year olds regularly get their news from "news influencers."

However, this model carries risks. When a single individual operates as an entire news system without editorial oversight, fact-checking mechanisms, or legal counsel, the result can be superficiality, blurring the lines between information, opinion, and rumor. The measure of influence, therefore, is less about journalistic quality and more about the ability to capture attention, set the public agenda, and reach audiences that traditional media struggle to connect with.