2025 Digital News Report: Insights from Reuters

News avoidance has reached an all-time high in multiple countries, according to the 2025 Digital News Report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. In Brazil, 54% of survey respondents say they “sometimes or often actively avoid the news,” the highest percentage recorded in that country since the Reuters Institute began tracking the figure. This represents a 7 percentage point increase in news avoidance in Brazil compared to the previous year, and it marks the first time that a majority has self-identified as news avoiders in that country. The researchers attribute this rise largely to the emotional toll of repeated negative and distressing news cycles, especially around politics and crises.

In the United States, news avoidance has also increased, with 41% of people reporting that they “sometimes or often avoid the news.” This is the highest figure for the U.S. since these surveys began. The report links this to both the polarization around the 2024 presidential election and the ongoing prevalence of conflict-driven and sensational coverage that many respondents found overwhelming. The increase in avoidance during major political events shows that instead of driving more engagement, high-stakes news cycles can push some audiences away.

Global trust in news remains at historically low levels. The average share of people across 47 countries who say they trust “most news, most of the time” is 38%. This figure is unchanged from 2024, but it is 4 percentage points lower than just three years ago. The report links this low trust to exposure to misinformation, but also to perceived bias, clickbait headlines, and the blending of news with opinion and commentary, especially on social platforms.

Social media platforms continue to dominate as news sources, but there are significant generational divides in platform preference and news consumption habits. In 2025, 46% of people aged 18 to 24 say their main source of news is social media, compared to just 15% of those aged 55 and older. The report finds Instagram has overtaken Facebook as the most-used platform for news among people under 25, with 39% of this cohort citing Instagram as a top news source, compared to 35% for TikTok and 29% for YouTube. For people over 55, Facebook remains the most-used social platform for news by a wide margin, with 61% using it for news at least weekly.

One reason for the generational shift is the growing popularity of short-form video news. Among 18 to 24-year-olds, 60% say they “often or sometimes” watch news in video format, mostly via TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts. The report's authors note that younger users say they find video more engaging, more authentic, and easier to understand than text-based news. This explains why many news organizations have shifted resources to produce more video content for these platforms, sometimes at the expense of traditional written articles.

Despite the dominance of social platforms, direct access to news websites and apps continues to decline globally. This year, only 22% of respondents say they “prefer to start their news journey with a news website or app,” down from 28% three years ago. In the United Kingdom, the share is just 18%. The shift away from direct access is attributed to the convenience of having news mixed into social feeds and to the perception that news apps are cluttered with paywalls, pop-ups, and advertising.

Paying for online news continues to stagnate or decline in most countries. The global average share of people who say they paid for any online news in the past year remains at 16%, unchanged from 2024. Only Norway and Sweden report more than 30% of adults paying for news—Norway at 39% and Sweden at 33%—while rates in countries like Germany and the United Kingdom are much lower, at 14% and 9% respectively. In the United States, the proportion paying for news remains flat at 21%. The report connects low willingness to pay to the wide availability of free news via aggregators and social platforms, and to frustration with the proliferation of subscription models across multiple outlets.

The report finds increasing “news fatigue” is not only leading to avoidance but also to a desire for more positive or solutions-focused journalism. In Spain, 47% of respondents say they would like to see more news stories that show solutions to problems, rather than just focusing on the problems themselves. This figure is up 9 percentage points from the previous year. The report suggests that when audiences are overwhelmed by crisis-driven and negative reporting, they may seek out outlets that offer constructive or hopeful perspectives.

Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape news production and distribution. The 2025 report tracks that 28% of major news publishers surveyed say they are using generative AI tools to write headlines or summaries, and 11% say they have experimented with AI-generated news stories, especially for routine financial, sports, or weather updates. The report raises concerns about transparency and accuracy as AI-generated content becomes more common, especially when not clearly labeled as machine-written.

Audiences express mixed feelings about AI in news. In a separate survey question, only 24% of respondents say they are comfortable with the idea of news content being generated by AI, while 56% say they prefer news to be written by human journalists. This skepticism is higher when it comes to sensitive topics like politics, with 73% of respondents indicating they do not trust AI to cover political news accurately. The hesitation is less pronounced for data-heavy stories, such as weather or sports results.

Misinformation and disinformation continue to worry audiences, especially around elections and international conflicts. In 2025, 66% of people surveyed across all countries say they are concerned about identifying false or misleading information online. This is up from 61% in 2024. The greatest concern is reported in countries with recent elections or ongoing conflicts, where misinformation can have immediate political or social consequences. The report singles out the role of encrypted messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, where 29% of respondents say they have received “potentially false” news about politics in the past month.

There is a notable rise in the use of private and semi-private networks for news sharing and discussion. In Germany, for example, 44% of respondents say they regularly use WhatsApp for sharing news with friends or family, up from 36% last year. This trend is attributed to growing distrust in public platforms, increased concerns about online harassment or abuse, and the desire for more personal, controlled communication spaces.

Podcast listening for news remains strong, especially among younger and urban audiences. Globally, 34% of respondents say they listened to a news podcast in the past month, with the rate rising to 49% among 18 to 24-year-olds. The report finds that podcasts are valued for their depth, context, and the feeling of intimacy between hosts and listeners. Many survey respondents say podcasts provide a “break” from the relentless, negative, or polarized tone of mainstream news coverage.

Local news faces continued pressures from declining revenues and shifting audience habits. In the United States, 39% of respondents say they “rarely or never” access local news, a 5 point increase from two years ago. The report identifies the closure of small newsrooms and the consolidation of local outlets as key drivers, making it harder for people to find reliable information about their own communities. In France and Italy, the preference for national over local news is even more pronounced, with less than 20% citing local news as their primary focus.

The 2025 report highlights that women and younger people are disproportionately likely to avoid the news or say it makes them anxious. Among women under 35, 57% across 20 surveyed countries report “frequently feeling anxious” after consuming the news, compared to 38% of men in the same age group. The researchers suggest that the prevalence of distressing topics such as violence, climate change, and social conflict may contribute to this gender gap in news-related anxiety.

Despite headlines about the decline of text-based news, long-form investigative journalism retains a core audience, especially among those with higher education and income. In Australia, 29% of respondents say they have read an investigative or long-read feature in the past month, almost double the global average of 15%. The report notes that investigative content is most often accessed through online subscriptions or donations, rather than advertising, indicating a small but resilient market for in-depth reporting.

Mobile devices have become the dominant way people access news content. In 2025, 73% of all respondents say they “mainly use a smartphone” to get news, up from 68% in 2023. The share using computers or tablets for news continues to decline, especially outside of workplace settings. This shift toward mobile has led publishers to focus on mobile-first design and to experiment more with vertical video and interactive formats optimized for phone screens.

There is a significant gap in news engagement between younger and older generations. In the United Kingdom, only 19% of 18 to 24-year-olds say they “follow the news closely,” compared to 54% of those aged 55 and above. The report points out that younger people are more likely to encounter news “incidentally” as part of their social media activity, while older people are more likely to seek it out deliberately from trusted brands.

News personalization algorithms are increasingly shaping what stories people see. In the United States, 64% of respondents say they have noticed that news stories in their social or news feeds appear to be selected based on past reading habits or interests. However, only 22% say they “fully understand” how these algorithms work. The report raises concerns about filter bubbles and echo chambers, especially as more people rely on algorithmic feeds rather than editorially curated sources.

The financial outlook for digital news remains challenging. In 2025, 43% of publishers surveyed say they expect revenues to decline or remain flat over the next year, while only 19% expect a significant increase. Many cite the dominance of Google and Meta in the digital advertising market, as well as the widespread use of ad-blockers, as core obstacles to growth. In Latin America, several large news organizations have announced layoffs or cutbacks in daily coverage due to declining digital ad revenues.

There is a growing movement toward “explainer” and educational news formats, designed to help audiences understand complex issues. In India, 32% of respondents say they “prefer news that explains and contextualizes events,” an increase of 11 percentage points from 2022. The report credits the rise of platforms like YouTube and Instagram for making explainer videos more accessible, often using animation, graphics, and everyday language to reach wider audiences.

Climate change coverage remains a divisive but important topic. In Germany, 43% of respondents say they “actively seek out news about climate change,” while 27% report “avoiding climate news because it is depressing or too repetitive.” The report finds that stories about local impacts, solutions, and personal actions are more likely to engage audiences than those focusing solely on global catastrophe or political wrangling.

Efforts to combat misinformation show mixed results. In Brazil and Spain, major news organizations have launched fact-checking partnerships and public education campaigns, but only 35% of survey respondents in those countries say they “trust fact-checking organizations to be impartial.” The report suggests skepticism about fact-checkers often aligns with broader distrust in media and political institutions.

Messaging apps are increasingly used as the primary news source in several countries. In Malaysia, 58% of respondents say they “mainly get news” through WhatsApp or Telegram, the highest rate recorded in the survey. This is attributed to language diversity, limited access to independent local media, and the role of diaspora and family networks in news sharing.

The report notes a shift in attitudes toward news comment sections and user forums. Only 14% of global respondents say they “often read or participate in comments” on news sites, down from 23% five years ago. The decline is linked to concerns about online abuse, trolling, and the perception that comment sections add little to news understanding.

Nonprofit and philanthropic funding for news is growing, but remains concentrated in a few markets. In the United States, 7% of newsrooms report that at least half their revenue comes from foundations or donations. By contrast, in countries like Japan and South Korea, nonprofit funding accounts for less than 1% of total news revenues.

News consumption on smart speakers and voice assistants remains a niche habit. In the United Kingdom, just 9% of respondents say they “regularly get news” via devices like Amazon Echo or Google Home. The report suggests that while voice platforms offer convenience for headlines and weather, they have not yet become a mainstream way to access news or deeper analysis.

There is a rise in the use of influencer and creator accounts as trusted news sources among younger audiences. In the United States, 27% of respondents aged 18 to 24 say they “regularly get news” from influencers or creators on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, up from 19% two years ago. This shift is partly due to perceptions of relatability, authenticity, and a more conversational style compared to traditional journalists.

The 2025 Digital News Report finds that in Nigeria, 52% of people cite “fear of political or legal repercussions” as a reason for avoiding the news, the highest percentage in the world on this measure. This is linked to recent government crackdowns on journalism and restrictions on press freedom, as well as widespread online surveillance.

A surprising detail from the report: in Norway, the share of people paying for online news has now surpassed the share paying for streaming video services, making Norway the first country in the world with this distinction.