The latest report from the Reuters Institute has revealed a concerning trend – more people are actively avoiding the news. The study, which surveyed nearly 95,000 adults across 47 countries, found that almost four in 10 people worldwide are choosing to switch off from the news, citing reasons such as feeling overwhelmed, fatigued by politics, or simply wanting to protect their mental health.
The ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have been highlighted as contributing factors to this news avoidance, with the report’s authors noting that the news agenda has been particularly difficult in recent years. The pandemic, along with other global crises, has left many feeling powerless and unable to cope with the constant barrage of negative news.
Interestingly, the report also found that trust in the news remains steady at 40%, but is slightly lower than it was during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic. In the UK, trust in the news has ticked up slightly this year, but still lags behind levels seen before the Brexit referendum in 2016.
The study also highlighted the changing landscape of news consumption, with traditional sources like TV and print seeing a decline in audiences, especially among younger people. Online news sources and social media platforms are now the preferred choice for many, with TikTok even overtaking Twitter as a news source for some.
Overall, the report paints a picture of a world where news consumption is evolving rapidly, with people seeking out alternative sources of information and turning away from traditional news outlets. As the news industry grapples with these changes, it will be interesting to see how it adapts to meet the needs of a changing audience.
