Global Trust in News Keeps Falling

A new Reuters Institute report suggests that global trust in news has fallen to its lowest level since the annual study began more than a decade ago. Overall trust worldwide has dropped to 37%, down three points from last year, while trust in the UK has fallen to 30%, 20 points below where it was 10 years ago. The article attributes the decline to a mix of anxiety, disengagement, and cynicism among audiences, especially over coverage of long-running issues such as immigration, inflation, and international conflict. At the same time, the report notes that people are increasingly turning to third-party platforms such as social media and video networks for news, though traditional outlets like news websites and TV remain widely used. Confidence in social media news is low, and trust in AI chatbots is also limited, even as weekly use rises, particularly among younger users. Support for impartial news remains relatively strong. The report also finds that online news video has become mainstream globally, surpassing broadcast TV news in nearly every market, and that audiences appear to want news that feels more accessible, understandable, and relevant.

The article reports that the United Kingdom plans to ban children under 16 from using social media apps, making it one of the most aggressive efforts yet to limit young people’s access to digital platforms. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the proposed law would go beyond age restrictions alone by also blocking access to certain “harmful functions” like livestreaming and messaging strangers, and would extend to some gaming sites. The policy would target major platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, while leaving services like WhatsApp available. The government also wants to prohibit AI “romantic companions” for users under 18, though the details remain unclear. If passed, the law would place responsibility on tech companies to enforce the rules or face heavy fines, with implementation expected by spring 2027. The article places the U.K. proposal in a wider international context, noting Australia’s under-16 ban and similar legislative efforts in France, Denmark, Malaysia, and Ireland. It also highlights resistance from big tech and concern from the U.S. Embassy in London, which argued that age-gating would not work and emphasized parental responsibility. At the same time, the government cites polling showing strong parental support for the restrictions. A large portion of the piece shifts to Greystones, Ireland, where a community initiative called “It Takes a Village” has already taken a locally driven approach to reducing children’s smartphone use. School leaders and parents there report that delaying smartphones, adding phone pouches, and creating offline activities has helped reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and increase face-to-face socializing among children. The article uses Greystones as a real-world example of a broader movement to limit children’s exposure to social media and screen addiction.

The article reports that, for the first time, social media and video platforms have become the world’s most widely used source of news, overtaking traditional media outlets such as television, newspapers, and radio. Drawing on the 2026 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, based on surveys of nearly 100,000 people across 48 countries, the piece highlights a major shift in how people consume news globally. According to the report, 54% of respondents said they got news from social media or video platforms in the previous week, rising to 56% when AI chatbots such as ChatGPT were included. That compares with 52% for TV news, 51% for newspaper apps or websites, and 21% for radio. The article emphasizes that the change is especially pronounced among younger audiences, with half of 18- to 24-year-olds saying social media or video platforms are their main source of news. By contrast, traditional media apps and websites are no longer the first choice in any surveyed age group. The Reuters Institute warns that this trend has serious implications for news organizations, particularly around audience reach, engagement, and monetization, as only 17% of respondents said they pay for online information. The article also notes that tech giants such as Google and Meta have captured a major share of advertising revenue, weakening traditional publishers. Beyond audience behavior, the report points to broader industry concerns: declining trust in news, rising use of AI chatbots, and growing influence of individual creators and video content. Trust in “most news most of the time” fell to an all-time low of 37%, while weekly use of chatbots for news rose to 10% from 7% the previous year. The article frames these developments as part of an unsettled and volatile media environment shaped by technological change, geopolitical uncertainty, and ongoing pressure on the economics of journalism.