The U.K. government is considering new rules that would require platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Meta-owned services to give greater visibility to content from established news organizations, including public service broadcasters like the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. The proposal addresses concerns about misinformation and the growing role social media plays in how people access news.
The plans are still under consultation, and officials have not finalized how the rules would work in practice. However, the proposal could eventually extend beyond broadcasters to include national and local news publishers.
News consumption continues to shift online
Younger audiences have turned to platforms such as TikTok and YouTube for news and current events. Recent research from the Reuters Institute found that social and video platforms continue to play a growing role in news consumption worldwide, particularly among younger demographics.
U.K. officials have argued that improving the visibility of trusted news sources could help users find reliable information during major events, emergencies and periods of public unrest.
Earlier this month, a report from the Social Market Foundation found higher levels of misinformation circulating in areas with limited local journalism, while Ofcom introduced new requirements aimed at slowing the spread of harmful content during crises.
Platforms and creators raise questions
Critics argue that requiring platforms to prioritize specific publishers could influence recommendation systems and reduce the visibility of independent creators and smaller news outlets. Others have questioned how regulators would define which organizations qualify as trusted news providers.
According to David Wheeldon, YouTube’s Senior Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy in Europe, “Prominence rules seek to distort that – forcing YouTube to prioritise government-picked channels over whatever viewers actually came to watch. That’s not fair on users, creators or the wider journalism ecosystem. We’ll continue to advocate for a level playing field.”
If implemented, recommendation systems on YouTube, TikTok and other social media services may be required to give greater prominence to established news organizations, potentially affecting how audiences discover both professional journalism and creator-produced news content.