Iraqi Audience Reliance on Television Channel Pages on Social Media Sites as a Primary Source of News

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the audience’s use of television channels’ social media pages as a source of news, focusing on the characteristics of the audience, their usage patterns, and the impact of these pages on their media awareness. The study relied on a questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 80 respondents, and the results were analyzed according to demographic variables (gender, age, educational level) and factors related to the use of social media platforms. The findings revealed that television channels’ social media pages represent a primary source of news, particularly among young people and those with university-level education, and are distinguished by their ability to influence and interact with the audience. The study also provided several recommendations to enhance the credibility of digital content, such as increasing audience engagement, developing strategies to reach different demographic groups, and promoting digital media literacy.