New Reuters Institute research reveals audiences’ scepticism of news on digital platforms

Audiences trust news they see on digital platforms significantly less than news in general according to new research from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.

The report – ‘The trust gap: how and why news on digital platforms is viewed more sceptically versus news in general’ – also reveals that those who trust news on platforms the least are the ones not using them.  And less trusting people tend to be older, less educated and less politically interested, and also express less trust in news in general. The report draws on an original dataset of survey responses collected in the summer of 2022 across Brazil, India, the UK, and the US.

This piece of research is the sixth instalment from the Trust in News Project, an initiative focused on Brazil, India, the UK and the US, four countries which account for more than one billion internet users and encompass a wide range of media systems and contexts.

Other key findings include:

• People who are more interested in politics are more likely to have stopped talking to someone due to political disagreement
• Negative perceptions about journalism are widespread and social media is one of the places where people see this criticism - as many as half the respondents in all four countries say they believe journalists try to manipulate audiences to serve the agendas of powerful politicians or care more about getting attention than reporting the facts.
• News about politics is viewed as particularly suspect and platforms are seen by many as contentious places for political conversation.
• Misinformation and harassment are among the leading problems many associate with platforms.

The report was authored by Amy Ross Arguedas, Sumitra Badrinathan, Dr Camila Mont’Alverne,  Benjamin Toff, Richard Fletcher and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen.

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism is dedicated to exploring the future of journalism worldwide.