Despite a global decline in news trust and the dominance of social media, voters in Indonesia and Singapore continued to rely on traditional media outlets during recent elections, according to new research. Studies from Indonesia's 2024 presidential election and Singapore's 2025 general election found that television and established digital news brands — such as Singapore's CNA and The Straits Times — remained among the most trusted sources, even as TikTok, YouTube, and podcasts grew in influence, particularly among younger voters. The findings also highlight a widening regulatory gap: Singapore passed legislation in 2024 targeting AI-manipulated election content, while Indonesia lacks equivalent laws, leaving nearly half its population unaware of video-editing tools and vulnerable to subtle AI-generated propaganda such as the viral 'Gemoy' cartoons produced during the Prabowo-Gibran campaign.