Three-quarters of Maltese rely on social media for news and information on politics and current affairs, almost double the EU average, according to a new Eurobarometer survey published Friday.
The study tracks people’s online habits, examining how citizens across Europe engage with news, online content and disinformation.
The survey found that 74% of people in Malta say they use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to get information on current affairs and political issues, second only to Cyprus and almost twice the EU average of 40%.
In total, four out of every five Maltese access news through online channels, including social media and news portals, at least once a day.
Just over one in five (21%) say they now listen to podcasts for information on current affairs, while over a tenth (12%) have come to rely on ChatGPT or similar AI chatbots.
On the other hand, the Maltese are far less keen on traditional sources of news than their European counterparts.
Just 48% of those in Malta say they get social and political news from TV, while 27% say they rely on radio, both the lowest rates in Europe.
Meanwhile, 38% turn to newspapers or their online portals, a figure in line with the EU average.
Facebook dominates Maltese social media
While Facebook’s popularity may be waning across much of Europe, it remains overwhelmingly popular in Malta.
Some 87% of Maltese say Facebook is their platform of choice for news, comfortably the highest rate in Europe and well ahead of second-placed social media platform Instagram, which comes in at 35%.
Other platforms, such as YouTube (33%), TikTok and WhatsApp (both at 20%) are also popular, although the Maltese make less use of X, Telegram and Reddit, compared to other Europeans.
Some 93% of Maltese say they frequently come across social or political information on social media by chance, without having searched for it, a figure higher than anywhere else in Europe.
On the other hand, only 62% say they actively search for news content on social media, slightly below the EU average.
When they chance upon political content, the Maltese are more likely than anyone else in Europe to share it with friends through a message or private chat (29%)
Malta has more news junkies than other EU countries
The survey also presents a curious split between casual consumers of current affairs in Malta and the more dedicated news junkies.
Only 58% of Maltese say they check traditional offline media (such as TV, radio or print newspapers) for political news at least once a day, a figure lower than all but five EU countries.
On the other hand, the Maltese are more likely than any other Europeans to check for news more than 10 times a day, both in terms of traditional media (13%) and online sources (22%).
Maltese well-equipped to spot disinformation, rely on fact-checkers
Disinformation and fake news continue to be a major issue in Malta, the study finds.
Almost half of the people surveyed (45%) said they encounter disinformation often or very often, more than all but four EU countries and an increase of 17 percentage points since 2022.
But the Maltese believe they are well equipped to handle fake news, with 84% saying they are somewhat or very confident that they can recognise disinformation, the highest rate in Europe, and 58% saying they cross-check it with other sources to verify its accuracy. Some 55% say they check whether information is coming from a trusted source.
Almost one in four (24%) say they also turn to a fact-checking tool or website, a rate higher than any other country in Europe.
