Global trust in news has fallen to its lowest level in a decade as audiences increasingly turn to social media, video platforms and artificial intelligence chatbots for information, according to the Digital News Report 2026 published by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.
The annual report, one of the world’s most comprehensive studies on media consumption, surveyed nearly 100,000 people across 48 markets. Researchers Jim Egan, Craig T. Robertson, Amy Ross Arguedas, Nic Newman, Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, Mitali Mukherjee and Richard Fletcher authored the report.
The study found that only 37 percent of respondents trust “most news most of the time,” marking the lowest level since the Reuters Institute began tracking trust in 2015.
The sharpest declines came in the Philippines, where trust dropped 10 percentage points. Ireland followed with a nine-point decline, while Thailand, Peru and Poland each recorded an eight-point fall.
The United States also recorded a significant decline. Only 25 percent of Americans said they trust most news most of the time, down five percentage points from 2025.
Trust was even lower among right-leaning Americans, where only 15 percent expressed confidence in most news.
Several major US news organizations also recorded notable declines. Trust in CBS News and Fox News each fell by 10 percentage points, while CNN lost six points compared with the previous year.
AI and Social Platforms Become Major News Sources
The report found that audiences are increasingly discovering news through digital platforms instead of traditional media outlets.
For the first time globally, more people now access news through social media platforms and video networks than through television broadcasts or news organizations’ own websites.
Researchers said this shift extends well beyond younger audiences.
The report found that every age group, except adults aged 55 and older, now relies less on television and news websites than they did in 2021.
Artificial intelligence is also beginning to reshape news consumption.
Weekly use of AI chatbots for news increased from 7 percent to 10 percent worldwide over the past year.
Among people younger than 35, weekly AI chatbot use reached 16 percent, making the technology an increasingly important source of news discovery and explanation.
The report also found that 77 percent of respondents watch online news videos every week.
Most users consume that content through platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook rather than through dedicated news websites or mobile applications.
Traditional News Organizations Face New Challenges
Researchers said the findings reflect a rapidly changing digital landscape where audiences increasingly prefer convenient, personalized and mobile-first news experiences.
Publishers continue to face pressure from changing consumer habits, growing competition from technology platforms and declining public confidence.
The report also highlights the growing influence of video-based news, creator-driven journalism and AI-powered information services in shaping how people consume news around the world.
Despite the rapid rise of digital platforms, researchers stressed that questions surrounding trust, accuracy and transparency remain central to the future of journalism.
As audiences embrace new technologies, news organizations face increasing pressure to rebuild credibility while adapting to changing viewing habits and evolving digital platforms.
