A million Dutch adults get news solely from social media. Only 12% trust what they see.

Dutch adults' reliance on social media for news, with over a million people using no other sources, highlights a significant shift in news consumption habits. This trend, as reported in the 2026 Digital News Report, indicates that social media platforms have become the primary news source for a substantial portion of the Dutch population. For website owners, this means that their online presence and content may not be reaching a significant portion of their target audience, as these individuals are bypassing traditional news websites and instead relying on social media for news. This shift in behavior can result in reduced website traffic and decreased engagement with their content, ultimately impacting their online visibility and influence. To adapt to this change, website owners can take actionable steps such as optimizing their social media presence to reach this audience, ensuring their content is easily shareable and discoverable on social media platforms. Additionally, they can utilize AI bot tracking tools to monitor social media conversations related to their brand or niche, and update their llms.txt files to reflect changes in user behavior and preferences. By doing so, website owners can better understand and engage with their target audience, even if they are no longer visiting their website directly.