Negativity and repetitive coverage are the most commonly selected reasons.
🛡️ Sports — Global Study
News & Trust Trends 2026: Who Do We Believe?
A breaking headline appears on your phone. You read it, perhaps share it, then wonder whether it tells the whole story. For many respondents, following the news involves both staying informed and checking what deserves belief.
💬 Total Respondents 321,965
🌍 Countries Covered 35
🗓️ 2026
⏱ 7 Min Read
the standout stat
0
%
Follow news at least once a day
Say knowing the original source is very or extremely important before trusting a story
0
%
Have believed or shared news later discovered to be inaccurate or misleading
0
%
Support labelling news content substantially created or altered using AI
0
%
Often or very often avoid news because it feels stressful, negative or overwhelming
%
Quick Read – Key Findings
Where Does Your Trust Lie?
Explore the gap between news habits and trust.
Where Do People Get Their News?
Social media is the main news source for 37.2%, followed by television at 25.8% and newspaper/news websites or apps at 21.0%.
However, popularity does not guarantee stronger trust. 67.1% trust traditional news organisations quite a lot or a great deal, compared with 48.7% for news on social media.
Social platforms bring stories into everyday life, while established publishers retain an advantage in credibility.
What Makes a Story Believable?
Evidence and reputation matter most. When asked to choose one deciding factor, 41.7% select evidence or data, while 34.3% choose the source’s reputation.
Verification is also a reported habit: 79.4% check multiple sources for important stories often or almost always.
Yet 64.5% find distinguishing reliable news from misleading information very or extremely difficult. Wanting to check a story and finding a clear answer are different experiences.
Can You Trust Your News?
Explore what earns readers’ trust. Read the trends.
How Is AI Affecting News Trust?
AI adds another question: is the content authentic?
Fake videos and deepfakes concern 67.2% of respondents. Meanwhile, 75.4% would trust a story somewhat or much less if they knew AI had helped create it.
The strong demand for labelling suggests that disclosure matters. Readers want to understand how the information reaching them was produced.
Why Are People Stepping Away?
News remains part of daily life, but 64.3% feel overwhelmed by its volume often or very often.
Negativity and repetitive coverage are the most commonly selected reasons for avoiding news. Publishers therefore face a challenge beyond attracting attention: making their coverage useful enough for people to keep returning.
Beyond the Breaking Headline
Discover how people choose, check and trust their news.
What Is the Bigger Picture?
The findings show concern alongside continued trust. 56.7% say they trust news more than five years ago.
For publishers, the clearest opportunity is to make credibility easier to assess. 65.1% say more evidence and source links would increase their trust. Showing readers how a story was established could help them feel better informed.
FAQ's
1. What is the leading news source?
Social media leads, with 37.2% choosing it as their main source.
2. What matters most for credibility?
Evidence or data is the top single factor, selected by 41.7%.
3. Do people verify important stories?
Yes. 79.4% say they check multiple sources often or almost always.
4. Do readers want AI labels?
Yes. 87.6% support labelling substantially AI-created or altered content.
5. Why do people avoid news?
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at a glance
Total Respondents
321,965
Countries Covered
35
Topic
Trust & Safety
Survey time
~7 Min Read
Published Date
05 Nov'2026
Author
Shamin Pereira
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