Interest in the news is down sharply in all age groups, but particularly among young people under 35, according to a recent global survey by the Reuters Institute Digital News Report.
The link between journalism and much of the public is fraying, according to the survey of citizens from six continents and 46 markets.
Around 40% of those under 35 surveyed mentioned that they often or sometimes avoided information, while 36% of those over 35 acted in the same way.
Nearly 39% of under-35s also said they avoided the news because it “has a negative effect on their mood”, while 39% said they saw “too much coverage of like politics or COVID-19”.
“Topics that journalists see as most important, such as political crises, international conflicts, global pandemics and climate disasters appear to be precisely what are turning some people away from the news,” the report read. released Wednesday.
Only 37% of young people surveyed said they trusted the news “most of the time”, a higher figure (47%) among people over 55.
“The overwhelming and depressing nature of the news, the sense of helplessness and the toxic debates online turn many people off – temporarily or permanently,” the researchers pointed out.
However, all age groups recognize that the news is an essential way to learn new things, but young people remain more interested in seeing more positive and entertaining content.
If the traditional information formats, such as the written press or television, are less and less consumed, social media have not made up the difference.
In general, news consumption has increased from 63% in 2017 to 51% in 2022.