Let’s face it: the days of the morning paper tossed onto your driveway or the 6PM news being the sole source of daily information are long gone.
Today, Aussies are scrolling through headlines over brekkie on their smartphones, catching live updates during commutes, and engaging with interactive content well into the night.
So, what’s really happening behind the scenes in Australian newsrooms? And how is tech reshaping the way we consume—and trust—the news?
In 2024, Australians are watching more video content online than ever before. A whopping 91% of us used an online platform—whether paid or free—to stream videos, a noticeable jump from 83% in 2023.
YouTube continues to lead the pack, with 57% of Australians tuning in each week, making it the most popular video platform in the country.
Not only are more people watching subscription-based services like Netflix or Stan, but the average number of paid subscriptions per person is also on the rise.
But while streaming surges ahead, live free-to-air TV is losing ground. For the first time, less than half of Australians (46%) reported watching live broadcast TV (excluding catch-up services), down from 52% in 2023. It’s a landmark moment that signals a clear shift in our viewing habits.
Interestingly, more Aussies—especially older Australians—are turning to apps for voice calls. While younger generations still dominate digital communication, it’s those aged 65 to 74 who are leading the growth in this space.
Almost half (47%) of people in that age bracket used an app like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Zoom to make a voice call, up from 38% last year.
And when it comes to staying connected online, nearly all Australians (98%) are active on at least one communication or social media app—a slight uptick from 97% in 2023. Facebook remains the frontrunner, with 78% of adults using it in the past six months.
The Digital Leap: From Print to Pixels
It all started with necessity. As advertising dollars dried up in print and audiences migrated online, news outlets like The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Australian had no choice but to adapt.
But rather than merely replicate their print content on the web, many of these organisations have reimagined what news delivery looks like in the digital age.
Paywalls and subscriptions became the new norm, pushing publications to offer premium content, exclusive interviews, and deeper investigative pieces.
Platforms like The Guardian Australia and ABC News found success by striking a balance—providing high-quality journalism while remaining freely accessible to the public.
AI & Automation: Friend or Foe?
Artificial Intelligence is no longer sci-fi—it’s already being used in Australian newsrooms. Take the ABC, for instance. They’ve been experimenting with automated transcription tools for faster content creation, and machine-learning algorithms to sift through massive data sets during investigations.
Meanwhile, news aggregators powered by AI curate personalised headlines for readers, helping them cut through the noise. But here’s the kicker: while these tools increase efficiency, they also raise critical questions about bias, editorial control, and job displacement.
Still, most journos will tell you that AI is a tool—not a threat. It frees up reporters to focus on the real stuff: breaking stories, deep dives, and on-the-ground reporting.
Podcasts, Live Streams & TikTok News: The New Frontier
Gone are the days when news was confined to paper or television. Today’s Aussie news consumers want variety—and they want it fast.
Podcasts like The Briefing or 7am by Schwartz Media have captured audiences with sharp, digestible content. Meanwhile, platforms like YouTube, Instagram and TikTok are becoming legitimate news outlets in their own right, especially among younger Aussies.
Major networks have jumped on the bandwagon. 9News and ABC now livestream press conferences, election coverage, and bushfire updates, ensuring the public has real-time access to unfolding events.
It’s a win-win: audiences stay informed, and outlets stay relevant.
Fighting Fake News in the Age of Misinformation
With tech comes responsibility. The digital age has given rise to misinformation, bots, and deepfakes—all of which can undermine trust in traditional media.
Australian news organisations are tackling this head-on. ABC’s Fact Check and RMIT’s CrossCheck are working overtime to separate truth from fiction.
Moreover, platforms like Meta and Google are under increasing pressure from the Australian government to pay for credible news and promote reliable sources.
It’s a delicate dance: leveraging tech while protecting the integrity of journalism.
Regional News Gets a Reboot
Technology isn’t just a metro thing—it’s also reviving regional journalism. In places where local papers have folded, independent digital outlets are filling the void. Sites like The New Daily, InQueensland, and The Regional are using tech to reach audiences previously left in the dark.
Better internet infrastructure and mobile access have helped bridge the gap between the bush and the big smoke, ensuring that stories from Alice Springs to Albury don’t go untold.
What’s Next? The Future of Aussie Journalism
As we look ahead, one thing is clear: technology will continue to shape Australian journalism in profound ways.
Expect to see:
- Immersive storytelling using VR and AR for bushfire simulations or historical documentaries.
- Blockchain tools for content verification and copyright protection.
- More community engagement, with reader-driven funding models and citizen journalism platforms.
The challenge? Staying true to journalism’s core values—accuracy, fairness, and public interest—while riding the wave of digital change.
Social Media Is Dominating Australia’s Online Landscape In 2025
The recently released Digital 2025 Australia report by Meltwater and We Are Social offers a compelling look into the country’s evolving digital habits and social media trends.
Packed with insights into consumer behavior and cultural shifts, the report confirms what many marketers already suspect—social media is not just part of the conversation; it is the conversation.
With 20.9 million Australians now active on social media—about 78% of the population—these platforms are a major part of everyday life.
On average, Aussies are using 6.5 platforms each month and spending around 1 hour and 51 minutes daily on social media. That’s a hefty chunk of screen time that underscores the platforms’ influence on both culture and commerce.
Meta continues to dominate the local landscape. Facebook remains the top platform, with 77.7% of Australians using it regularly.
Messenger and Instagram follow closely, with 68.9% and 65.2% user engagement respectively. For Android users, YouTube has taken the crown as the number one mobile app by average monthly users, just ahead of Facebook.
TikTok, while sitting in third place for overall platform preference, has captured Australian attention in a big way. Users are now spending an average of 38 hours and 51 minutes per month on the app—more than triple the time they spend on Instagram.
Social media’s role in brand discovery is also growing stronger. According to the report, 58.3% of Australians use social platforms to research products and services, while 43.2% engage with branded content before making a purchase decision.
LinkedIn’s audience in Australia grew by 13%, now reaching 17 million users. Interestingly, Australia now ranks in the top five globally for time spent on LinkedIn’s Android app, showing how the line between professional networking and personal content is continuing to blur.
Ross Candido, Vice President ANZ at Meltwater, highlights the importance of this digital shift for marketers:
“As Australian consumers turn to social media as a key brand research tool, brands must strategically align their media mix and tailor content to engage diverse audience groups across platforms.
“By harnessing real-time insights into consumer behaviour and engagement preferences, brands can optimise their marketing campaigns by delivering authentic, relevant content where it matters most.”
Spending on social media advertising is following the upward trend. Ad spend rose 12% over the past year, now totalling USD $4.26 billion, which makes up 29% of all digital ad spending in Australia. Investment in influencer marketing has also surged to USD $520 million, representing a 13% year-over-year increase.
But as digital engagement deepens, concerns about misinformation and data privacy are rising in parallel. An eye-opening 75% of Australians say they’re worried about the trustworthiness of online content—placing Australia among the top five countries worldwide in terms of concern over misinformation and privacy.
Suzie Shaw, CEO of We Are Social Australia, reflected on the broader cultural implications:
“In Australia, social media is where culture is shaped, opinions are formed, and brands are built.
The challenge for marketers today isn’t just being seen, but being relevant. With more Australians using social media to discover, research, and engage with brands, success comes down to understanding culture and tapping into it in meaningful ways.”
As digital and social platforms continue to influence everything from purchasing habits to political discourse, the report makes one thing abundantly clear: in 2025 and beyond, Australia’s digital landscape isn’t just evolving—it’s leading the cultural conversation.
News Consumption and Trust in Australia: A Changing Landscape
Paying for news remains uncommon in Australia, with fewer than one in ten people saying they pay for access to news daily. In fact, nearly 70% of Australians report never paying for news at all.
When it comes to trust, Australia ranks third in the Asia-Pacific region, with just over 40% of Australians saying they trust the news most of the time. This is lower than in countries like Thailand, where around half the population expresses consistent trust in news sources.
While traditional television news still holds its place as the main source of news for many Australians, a generational shift is underway.
Among younger Australians—particularly those in Generation Z—there’s growing trust in social media platforms as a primary source of news, outpacing more traditional formats.
The Rise of Digital News and the Decline of Print
Australians are increasingly turning to online platforms for their news, but this shift hasn’t translated into widespread adoption of paid digital subscriptions. Across various age groups, only around 10 to 20% of consumers report paying for online news content.
That said, digital readership is booming. Take The Sydney Morning Herald, for example—while its print edition still pulls in around 2 million readers, the online version now attracts more than 7.5 million.
Despite the digital surge, traditional news broadcasters continue to enjoy strong reach. ABC News, with its presence on both TV and radio, reaches around 40% of Australians. Commercial networks also remain influential, with Channel 9 reaching 36% and Channel 7 close behind at 32%.
Final Thoughts: The Story Continues
Australia’s media landscape is evolving at breakneck speed. But at its heart, journalism remains what it’s always been: a tool for informing the public, holding power to account, and telling the stories that matter.
Technology may change the way we report and consume news, but it also opens doors to richer, more inclusive storytelling.
If Aussie media can harness innovation while keeping journalistic integrity front and centre, the future looks not just bright—but downright groundbreaking.
