Facebook-owned Instagram is expected to surpass Twitter as a source of general news on social media platforms, according to a new report.
Across all age groups, the use of Instagram for news has doubled since 2018, said Oxford University's Reuters Institute in its Digital News Report 2020. It will probably overtake Twitter as a general news source over the next year.
Instagram has become very popular with younger people, particularly for “stories that are told simply and well with visual images”, said Nic Newman, lead author of the report.
Instagram reaches 11 per cent of respondents across all age groups, almost as many as those who use Twitter for news, said the report.
“As people spend more time with the network, the role of news has also increased significantly … [a] big change in the last few years has been the growth of Instagram which popularised visual formats like stories and short videos via IGTV.”
IGTV is a standalone video app by Instagram for Android and iOS smartphones that allows longer videos.
Instagram and Snapchat have become popular sources of news among younger age groups during the Covid-19 pandemic, the report said, due in part to the presence of celebrities and influencers on the platform. They play an “outsized role, with some sharing music, running exercise classes as well as commenting on the wider health issues”, the report said.
According to the report, which questioned about 80,000 people in 40 countries, Instagram reaches more than 36 per cent of respondents on a weekly basis. Among respondents under the age of 25, it reaches nearly two-thirds.
The study was commissioned by the Reuters Institute from YouGov, which first collected answers online in January and February but then repeated the exercise in April to get a sense of what had changed after the coronavirus outbreak.
The report found that the pandemic has reminded people of the value of traditional media.
“Traditional local news sources still lead overall … with 71 per cent people relying on offline and online services offered by traditional local news media.”
On average, across all countries, local newspapers (44 per cent) remain the most important source of news, followed by local television (33 per cent).
Besides reinforcing the need for reliable journalism, the seriousness of the crisis has reminded communities “how open we have become to conspiracies and misinformation”, Mr Newman added.
“Journalists no longer control access to information, while greater reliance on social media and other platforms give people access to a wider range of sources, some of which are at odds with official advice or simply false."
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
THE SPECS
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The Outsider
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Australia (15-1): Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Lukhan Tui; Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda; Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson.
Replacements: Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Jack Maddocks.
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
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THE APPRENTICE
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Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
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