The Top 3 News Sources for Gen Alpha

Gen Alpha’s media landscape is completely different from previous generations. If your brand wants to engage them, you need to understand where they get their information, and how that shapes their choices. 

With so much news coming at them in every aspect of life, the avenue for news sources is endless.   

Using research from our News and Culture report, we’ve uncovered the top 3 news sources for Gen Alpha and, as you might have guessed, TV didn’t make the cut. 

School (45%) 

Schools aren’t just for learning, they’re news hubs. They are the place where Gen Alpha meet their peers on a regular basis and it’s no surprise that their top sources of news is through socialising at school.  

The struggle with critical thinking is real, and there’s a growing need for schools and adults to make dissecting rumour, gossip, and news part of the curriculum. This will help Gen Alpha and future generations spot misinformation online.   

Mum & Dad (43%)  

According to Beano Brain’s Raising Gen Alpha research, the desire to be present and their democratic approach to parenting means that Millennials and their Gen Alpha kids are enjoying a super close relationship.  

Encouraged to participate in family life as stakeholders and opinion formers, Gen Alpha are heavily involved. And this extends to discussions on world events, politics, and news. As the parent-child relationship is shifting, brands focus on how they engage both generations.  

YouTube (42%) 

Ranked our top coolest brand for kids and teens of 2024, YouTube is a top news source for 42% of kids. Gen Alpha consider YouTube to be ‘safe’, a place where they’re less likely to stumble across upsetting or inappropriate content. Having successfully positioned music and culture within its proposition, YouTube has ensured it’s the one-stop-shop for this incoming generation. But more than this, YouTube is seen as the platform where kids find experts and learn from them or find help with their homework.  

When it comes to all these sources, trust is the key word. To discover more about what kids trust, how your brand can build trust and, more importantly, how to maintain it, get in touch with our team at hello@beanobrain.com and use our Brain.