Trust in news hits a new low, research suggests
Public trust in news has dropped to 37% worldwide, the lowest since 2015, with sharp declines in key markets. Online video and social media now dominate news consumption, while traditional outlets face declining credibility. The shift toward platforms and AI-driven content is reshaping how audiences engage with information. Younger generations show the steepest distrust, accelerating fragmentation in media habits.
What changed
Trust fell by three points globally and five points in the UK since last year’s report, marking the steepest annual decline in the survey’s history.
Live updates
-
Global trust in news plunges to 11-year low, Reuters Institute finds
confidence 92%Public trust in news has dropped to 37% worldwide, the lowest since 2015, with sharp declines in key markets. Online video and social media now dominate news consumption, while traditional outlets face declining credibility. The shift toward platforms and AI-driven content is reshaping how audiences engage with information. Younger generations show the steepest distrust, accelerating fragmentation in media habits.
What's confirmed:
- Global trust in news stands at 37%, down three points from 2025 and the lowest since annual tracking began in 2015.
- Trust in news in the UK has dropped by five points year-over-year, according to the Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2026.
- More people now watch online video news than broadcast TV news, reflecting a major shift in consumption habits.
- Social media and video platforms have surpassed traditional news sources as the primary way people access news.
- The Reuters Institute’s 15th Digital News Report highlights record volatility in trust metrics, with no region showing stable confidence in mainstream media.
Still unconfirmed:
- AI chatbots are increasingly used as news sources, though their role in shaping trust remains unclear.
- Younger audiences rely more on independent creators than established news organizations, though exact engagement figures are not yet published.
- The decline in trust is linked to rising concerns over misinformation, but no single factor has been identified as the primary driver.