Global trust in news hits decade low

Trust in news has fallen to its lowest level in a decade worldwide, while digital platforms have overtaken traditional media outlets as the main source of news, according to the latest Digital News Report 2026 released by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.

The annual study, which surveyed almost 100,000 people across 48 markets including Portugal, found that global trust in news has dropped to 37% — the lowest level recorded since the report began tracking public confidence in 2015.

The sharpest declines were seen in the Philippines, Ireland, Thailand, Peru and Poland.

In the United States, trust has fallen to just 25%, dropping to 15% among right-leaning respondents. Major US broadcasters including CBS News, Fox News and CNN also recorded significant falls in audience trust.

The report highlights a major shift in news consumption habits, with social media and video-sharing platforms now surpassing news websites, apps and television channels as the most common way people access information.

For the first time, Reuters researchers found that social networks and video platforms have become the leading gateway to news globally, signalling a profound change in audience behaviour.

Portugal featured in the survey alongside major markets including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain.

The findings show that concern over misinformation remains high among Portuguese audiences, with around three-quarters expressing worries about the spread of false and/ or misleading information online.

Artificial intelligence is also becoming a growing source of news. Weekly use of AI chatbots for news rose from 7% to 10% globally, reaching 16% among under-35s. Researchers found that users accessing news through AI tools tend to be among the most engaged news consumers.

Video continues to drive audience growth, with 77% of respondents worldwide watching online news videos each week. However, that growth is increasingly benefiting third-party platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook rather than news publishers’ own websites and apps.

The report is yet another clear indication that younger generations have (and will increasingtly have) news habits very different to those of their parents. More than half of respondents aged 18 to 24 said they have never regularly read a newspaper – underlining the challenges facing traditional media as audiences migrate towards platform-based and video-first news consumption.

source: LUSA/ SIC Notícias

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.