Social networks are most popular among Ukrainians for receiving news – poll

KYIV. Nov 18 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Social networks are the most popular among Ukrainians for news, according to the results of the USAID-Internews survey "Public Attitudes Towards Media and Consumption of Various Types of Media 2021".

"Regarding media activity, we noticed that there were no significant changes in the use of social networks, they maintain a leadership position. Some 63% of respondents said that they use social networks to receive news. A total of 48% preferred Internet websites. Television continues to lose its position – 46%. Radio and print media occupy low positions, as in previous years. Radio – 13%, print media – 7%," Deputy Director of Internews in Ukraine Oksana Maidan said at a conference in Kyiv on Wednesday, November 17.

National media are most popular with those who get news from Internet sites (85%), television (94%), radio (76%). The audience of print media gives more preference to regional media (57%) than national media (54%).

Among social networks, the first place for receiving news from Ukrainians is Facebook (43%). In addition, to receive news, Ukrainians use YouTube (25%), Telegram (20%), Instagram (17%), Viber (13%), TikTok (2%), Twitter (1%), VK (1%).

The level of trust in the media in Ukraine continues to fall, with the exception of radio and print media. In particular, the level of trust in national television is 40% (41% in 2020), regional television – 39% (38% in 2020), national Internet media – 47% (48% in 2020), regional Internet media – 44% (48% in 2020).

At the same time, the level of trust in national radio is 24% (21% in 2020), regional radio – 25% (22% in 2020), national print media – 22% (19% in 2020), regional publications 23% (22% in 2020).

According to the survey, most often respondents came across information about land reform (61% – met, 39% – no), pension reform (43% – met, 57% – no), health care reform (42% – met, 58% – no), educational reform (38% – met, 62% – no). The least frequently respondents came across information on reforming the energy sector (32% – met, 68% – no) and decentralization of power (31% – met, 69% – no). About 40% of those surveyed said they would like to know more about the reforms.

Some 84% of respondents believe that women should be represented in the media on a level with men, and 82% of respondents answered that media should satisfy the interests of different groups of the population.

In addition, 20% of respondents indicated that they are willing to pay to access their favorite Internet sites.

Gillian McCormack, director of Internews in Ukraine, said this year’s research found that most Ukrainians met disinformation, and a third to 50% were inclined to believe in fake narratives.

The study also showed a significant increase in the number of citizens who correctly determined by the test which information is true and which is not in each of the three news items submitted. In particular, in 2021, 24% of respondents correctly assessed all three messages, while in 2020 there were 11% of them. Only 6% of respondents did not give a single correct answer.

McCormack noted that the study’s results were not so positive when respondents were asked about the spread of misinformation. According to her, most Ukrainians have come across such stories, and even more alarmingly, a significant part believed in them, which is of particular concern when it comes to misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine.

In particular, 68% of those surveyed had heard stories that the vaccine was more dangerous than the coronavirus itself, and 49% said they believed this to be true.

Some 57% of respondents said they had heard that Ukraine is governed by external actors, it is completely dependent on international bosses who tell it what to do, and 56% believe it is true. Some 53% have heard that utility bills will be automatically debited from their bank cards, 57% believe this to be true. Some 51% have heard that the U.S. tries to make Ukraine an instrument of its own conflict with Russia, 51% think this is true.

The study was conducted in July-August 2021. The survey involved men and women aged 18 to 65 years in Ukrainian cities with a population of over 50,000 people, except for the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, in 12 regions of Ukraine. Research error – 2.5%.