For Gen Z, news isn’t read - it’s swiped through, visualized, and digested in under a minute. Across platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, they rely heavily on 15–60-second formats that deliver instant information, engagement, and relevance.

What's driving this trend? First, attention isn't diminishing - it's evolving. Gen Z has fine-tuned selective attention, instantly filtering content that fails to captivate . They demand mobile-native, purposeful, and visual-first news, where value must be clearly signaled from the opening frames.

Social media has become their main news source: nearly half rely on these platforms daily, with news formats needling visual and audio hooks to cut through the noise . Platforms like TikTok have rapidly grown - today, around a third of those under 30 get their news there regularly.

In short, Gen Z’s news habit is shaped by speed, social-first formats, and curated authenticity - making the 60-second news both a preference and a necessity.