Telegram Leads News Consumption in Uzbekistan, but Television Remains Most Trusted

Telegram channels are Uzbekistan’s most widely used news source, but television remains the most trusted, a national survey has found. The study, presented by the Mass Media Foundation in Tashkent on November 2, found that 51.6% of respondents used Telegram channels for news. Television followed at 44.6%, while 41.6% used social media. Trust followed a different pattern. Television was the most trusted source for 44.3% of respondents, compared with 11.3% for Telegram channels and 7.4% for news websites. The findings also show demand for more reliable reporting and greater attention to everyday problems. Some 41.3% of respondents said they lacked information about prices, employment, and social support. Another 40.6% wanted more coverage of people’s everyday problems. A Generational Divide The gap between Telegram and television was particularly pronounced across age groups. Among respondents aged 18–24, 66.2% used Telegram channels for news. Television led among those aged 55 and older, cited by 77.4%. However, the audiences overlap. Respondents could select up to three news sources, so the findings do not represent separate groups. Among Telegram users, 40% also received news from television. Telegram’s overall reach extended well beyond news consumption: 86.1% of respondents used the platform for communication or other activities. That figure should not be confused with the share using Telegram channels as a news source. Speed was the most frequently cited reason for choosing information sources, mentioned by 48.6% of respondents. Access at any time and from any location followed at 31%. Demand for Reliable Reporting Nearly half of social media users, 48.7%, said they had encountered false or unreliable information. Some 37.5% reported a shortage of verified news, while 31.6% wanted more objective coverage. These findings do not establish why television received higher trust ratings than Telegram, but they do show concerns about the quality of information available online. Across the full sample, 46.6% considered the spread of false information the main problem in the media environment. When asked what improvements they expected, 27.6% called for more in-depth analysis and 22.5% for an objective presentation of different viewpoints. Television viewers also identified shortcomings, including repetitive programming and excessive advertising. Rural respondents wanted more educational programs and coverage of life outside the capital, including everyday social and economic problems. How the Study Was Conducted Interviewers spoke face-to-face with 1,411 adults at their homes across all 14 regions from September 8 to 19, 2026. The organizers said the multistage sampling method produced nationally representative results. Urban residents accounted for 53.9% of the sample and rural residents for 46.1%. The study was a joint initiative of the Public Foundation for the Support and Development of National Mass Media and the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan. The Center for the Production of Content for Mass Media, under the Presidential Administration, was also a partner. The public opinion research center Ijtimoiy Fikr collected and analyzed the data. Respondents also assessed freedom of speech and media independence. Some 49.7% rated them highly, while 45.2% gave a medium rating, citing restrictions on coverage of certain topics....