Abstract
This article is the second in a series introducing findings from the Reuters Digital News Report 2025, conducted by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford. It focuses on media and social media usage in Japan, as well as public attitudes towards the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in news production.
In Japan, 50% of respondents said that they used television as a source of news, despite the continued decline in TV audiences. The proportion of those who used social media for news stood at 24% and remained largely unchanged from the previous year. Meanwhile, “AI chatbots”— included as response option for the first time this year—were cited by 5% of respondents, suggesting that they are emerging as a new source of news, particularly among younger demographics.
In several countries, online personalities and influencers play increasingly significant roles in shaping public opinion. In Japan, when asked which posts attract the most attention on social networks, “mainstream media” and “ordinary people” continued to dominate on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. However, on TikTok, “creators who mainly focus on news” attracted a level of attention comparable to that of the “mainstream media.”
Regarding public attitudes towards the use of generative AI in news production, audiences were generally more sceptical about news content produced mainly by AI than content created by journalists who use AI in a supporting role. When asked about the potential impact of AI use, respondents believed that it would make news production cheaper and more up to date, but fewer expected it to improve accuracy, transparency, or trustworthiness.
