S'poreans mostly relied on digital platforms of traditional media for GE2025 information

Voters most often turned to websites, apps and podcasts of traditional media for information about the 2025 General Election, a survey has shown.

- Samuel Devaraj Correspondent

Digital platforms of news outlets such as The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao and CNA were most frequently used by both younger and older people who previously relied on other sources such as social media and television.

This shift in media consumption habits relating to GE2025 came amid greater interest in issues connected to the contest, which was held on May 3, compared with the previous election.

The online survey, conducted between May 5 and 20 by the Institute of Policy Studies and the National University of Singapore's communications and new media department, polled 2,071 respondents.

Results of the survey were released on Sept 2.

It found that local "legacy media"—traditional mass media which existed before the digital age—benefited from digital transformation and innovation and caught up with non-legacy media by adopting a wide range of formats to reach out to audiences and voters.

The legacy media outlets' digital platforms, such as apps and podcasts, were accessed by 49 per cent of respondents about once or several times a day, making them the top source of GE2025 information.

Television followed at 43.5 per cent of respondents, while digital platforms such as Rice Media, Mothership and The Online Citizen drew 39 per cent.