New Survey Shows BBC Is Most Trusted News Source For Young People

A new survey for BBC Bitesize suggests that the BBC is the most trusted news source for young people among traditional broadcast and print media, as well as digital media channels including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

It comes as BBC Bitesize launches the Other Side Of The Story campaign to help 11-16 year olds navigate fake news, disinformation and misinformation online and better understand which news sources to trust and why.

Building on the broadcaster's popular BBC Young Reporter scheme, the campaign will provide videos, quizzes and classroom workshops for young people, teachers and schools, both face to face and on the BBC Bitesize website. The project is aiming to help secondary school pupils improve their media literacy skills, while giving them practical insight into how news stories are constructed, and often manipulated, online.

The research also suggests that young people trust politicians less than they trust social media influencers to tell them the truth about the news.

Almost half (47%) said they trusted social media platforms to give them truthful news while 66% said they would check with their parents if they wanted to know whether information they’d seen or heard was correct.

Just under nine out of 10 young people (87%) said they understood what fake news was but less than half said they would search for evidence to back up their views and opinions.

Of those who said they had shared fake news online 62% said they later regretted it.

BBC Director General Tim Davie, said: "It's vital young people have access to impartial and accurate information on the issues that matter to them and I’m pleased this latest research indicates the BBC is the most trusted news source for 11 to 16 year-olds.

"Our Other Side Of The Story campaign will give young people the tools to think critically about the information they consume and how to identify trusted outlets, whether it’s in print, broadcast or online."

Helen Foulkes, Head of BBC Education, said: "The results show how confused a lot of young people are about where to go to get reliable information. They're moving away from more traditional news sources but they’re not sure whether what they see and hear in other places can be trusted.

"By providing resources that help young people think more deeply about where news is coming from, whether it’s balanced or biased, fact or opinion or simply just made up, we’re hopeful we can arm them with the tools to feel much more confident about what they see and share in the future."