The public’s reliance on mobile phones for news has eclipsed traditional media, marking a shift in how Bangladeshis consume information, found a recent survey.
This survey, conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) under the Media Reform Commission, offers a comprehensive view of media consumption trends amidst ongoing political and public discontent, particularly following the July protests.
The findings suggest that while people have not entirely lost trust in the media, they perceive governmental and political influence as significant obstacles to the impartiality of news reporting.
Notably, the survey highlights that, despite a decline in print media readership, online news is primarily consumed via mobile devices.
Television remains a go-to for information during national crises, while radio, notably, has seen a sharp decline in relevance.
Of the participants, a staggering 73% admitted they no longer read newspapers, with 46% of them citing a lack of perceived necessity.
More than half (53%) of those surveyed also stated they did not watch television.
However, 65% still indicated that they engage with television, particularly during emergencies.
The radio’s role as an information source has dwindled significantly, with a startling 94% reporting that they do not listen to the radio.
Of these, 54% expressed that they simply do not find it necessary, while 35% pointed to the lack of access to radio devices as a key factor.
The survey, conducted between 1-7 January across 64 districts of Bangladesh, collected responses from 45,000 households.
It shed light on the growing dependence on mobile phones for news, with 59% of respondents using their phones to access online news.
Only 2.5% of respondents use computers, laptops, or tablets for the same purpose.
Overall, 88% of the respondents confirmed that they use mobile phones for media consumption, far outstripping the 7% who use computers.
Among social media platforms, Facebook emerged as the most trusted news source, with 31% of respondents relying on it, followed by YouTube at 16.5%.
Interestingly, when it comes to learning or gaining knowledge, 42% of respondents placed more trust in teachers than traditional media outlets.
These findings underscore the evolving media landscape in Bangladesh, with the mobile phone emerging as the dominant tool for information access, while also reflecting widespread concerns over media independence and credibility.
