People more likely to get their news online or through social media

The University of Luxembourg's latest study (MediaLux) analysed how information consumption habits are developing in the Grand Duchy. The greatest takeaway: people are increasingly informing themselves online and via social media, which can be attributed to the fact that smartphones are almost universally accessible.

Raphaël Kies, from the university, explains that the aim of the report was to find out how people in Luxembourg get their information, how they use media and how much trust they still have in it. It is clear that young people get their information in a completely different way from the rest of the population. Among older people, traditional media such as newspapers, radio, and television are still in the lead, while among young people social media dominates, which is not without risks.

"Many people are aware that by using social media they are not confronted with a plurality of information, because algorithms confirm and even reinforce opinions they already have. And despite that, people continue to get their information via social networks", he noted.

In addition, the general trend that trust in professional media is declining is also very much a reality in Luxembourg. "We can see a mistrust that is quite present towards journalism, with around a third of people who consider that the work of professional journalists is not independent from political or economic pressure", Kies continues. "Another third is more or less neutral, and a third is satisfied with the work of professional journalists."
 
The report also sheds light on the significant differences in trust based on readers' political attitudes. "The more people are inclined to vote for a protest party, or to refrain from voting at all, the more they tend to be mistrustful of professional journalism and, ultimately, prefer information that comes from those close to them, friends and so on."
 
All in all, the report is addressed to the media themselves, to politicians, but also the wider population. Kies adds a clear reminder that "we live increasingly inside the media". "We cannot ignore that; you go out into the street and everyone is on their phone, which is a bit pathetic, but it is the reality, it is the media context in which we live, which is omnipresent."

The Medialux report is based on a survey carried out before and after the 2023 elections, in which 1,600 people took part.

People were also asked about their consumption of local media, and it emerged that RTL is by far the main source of information when it comes to following current affairs in Luxembourg, be it through radio, television, or online. 68,2% of respondents say RTL is their first source of information.
 
Another survey will be carried out in January next year, with the corresponding report unveiled in spring 2026.