New year, new priorities: Aussies turn to health, career and news apps

More than 18 million Australians turned to health-related websites and apps in January, as New Year’s resolutions drove a surge in demand for fitness and wellness content, according to new Ipsos iris data.

The research, which tracks digital audience behaviour, showed a 4.3% rise in the number of Australians accessing health-related platforms compared to December 2024, reaching 18.4 million users. Aussies also spent significantly more time engaging with health content, averaging 68 minutes per month - a 20.9% increase from the previous month.

But the biggest spike came in the fitness and exercise category, with an additional 768,000 Australians (up 7.9%) using digital fitness resources in January as they ramped up post-holiday workout routines. Women aged 14 to 54 drove the trend, with those between 40 and 54 spending the most time on fitness and exercise-related content, averaging nearly two hours per month. Women over 40 showed a strong preference for nutrition and diet-related platforms.

Big news, big numbers

Beyond health content, Ipsos iris found major local and global news events kept Australians engaged with online news. The Australian Open, the Australia vs. India cricket Test series and Australia Day celebrations contributed to high readership, while international news events - including the California wildfires, Donald Trump’s second inauguration and a mid-air plane crash in Washington DC - drew strong interest.

In total, 20.9 million Australians accessed a news website or app in January, representing 97.5% of online Australians aged 14 and above. The online news audience grew by 1.1% compared to December and 3.1% year-on-year, with users spending more than five hours per month consuming news content.

The Ipsos iris data also revealed a shake-up in Australia’s most-read news sites, with ABC News claiming the top spot in January. The public broadcaster’s digital news platform attracted 12.48 million readers, marking a 6.2% increase from December. In contrast, News.com.au saw its audience shrink by over 400,000, slipping to second place with 11.76 million readers.

New year job seekers

The career category saw solid growth, with a 5.9% rise in users compared to December and a 7.6% increase year-on-year, reflecting the seasonal surge in job searches at the start of the year.

Interest in the homes and property category grew by 5.9%, while gaming content saw a 3% increase, aligning with the school holiday period. Despite economic pressures, retail website traffic remained stable, matching November and December figures and hinting at a shift towards more strategic, research-driven online shopping habits.

In total, 21.5 million Australians used the internet in January, spending an average of 4.8 hours per day online. Social networking, search, technology, retail, and entertainment remained the most-consumed content categories, each attracting over 21 million users.