… as the continent is emerging as a digital news powerhouse
Africa is emerging as a digital news powerhouse, with countries like Kenya and Nigeria leading the charge in social media-driven news consumption while reports also shows red flags of the continent now leading in misinformation.
According to the 2025 Digital News Report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, video platforms such as YouTube and TikTok have become the go-to sources of news for millions of Africans, particularly younger audiences.
The report shows that 54% of Kenyans and 49% of Nigerians now use YouTube for news weekly. TikTok, a relatively newer player in the news space, is used by 38% in Kenya and 49% in Nigeria for news levels that place these countries among the highest globally. This places Africa within a broader global trend of “social-first” media consumption, joining countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia where digital platforms have overtaken traditional news sources.
Increased internet access, widespread use of mobile phones, and lower data costs have helped fuel this growth, along with a shift in content preference. Many people in these countries now express a preference for watching the news over reading it, a trend especially evident among young people.
However, the same report also raises red flags. Africa recorded the highest global concern about misinformation, with 73% of respondents in the region saying they worry about distinguishing between true and false news online.
“Concern is highest in Africa (73%) and the United States (73%), with lowest levels in Western Europe (46%).” The report stated.
In both Nigeria and Kenya, influencers and online personalities are viewed as major contributors to misinformation, even as they dominate digital news spaces. “Concern about influencers is highest in African countries such as Nigeria (58%) and Kenya (59%),” the report stated.
In Kenya, creators such as The News Guy and comedian Crazy Kennar are drawing massive audiences on TikTok by blending humor and commentary on everyday events. While their popularity reflects a hunger for accessible and relatable content, it also shows how blurred the lines have become between journalism, satire, and opinion.
The report suggests that in some markets where trust in traditional media is low or press freedom is constrained, social media creators often step in to fill the information gap. But these spaces are also where false or misleading information can spread quickly — especially when news comes in short, engaging formats without much context.
Artificial intelligence tools like news chatbots are also gaining ground among under-25s in Africa, but many users remain skeptical of AI-generated content. While some see value in features such as summarised or translated news, concerns persist around transparency, bias, and the erosion of journalistic credibility.
Despite the challenges, trusted media outlets including government agencies and established news brands continue to play a critical role when people want to verify if something they read online is true. But traditional media must now compete for attention in a noisy and fragmented digital space.
