Pew Research: Nearly Half of Americans Feel Lost in the News

Nearly every American now says they come across news that seems inaccurate—and nearly half say they encounter it often. According to new Pew Research, 9 in 10 U.S. adults report seeing news they think is wrong at least occasionally, and 42% say it happens all the time.

Unsurprisingly, this is affecting trust and clarity. About half of Americans (51%) say they find it difficult to know what’s true and what’s not when getting the news. The more often people encounter falsehoods, the more likely they are to feel confused: 59% of those who frequently see inaccurate news say it’s hard to know what’s real, compared to just 31% of those who rarely do.

Digital news consumers—those who get news via phone, tablet, or computer—are more likely to say they encounter misinformation. And across political lines, Republicans report more frequent run-ins with inaccurate news (48% vs. 38% of Democrats), and are also more likely to say they struggle to determine what’s true.

Among Democrats, liberals are the most confident in their ability to discern fact from fiction (63% say it’s easy), while confidence drops among Republicans, regardless of ideology.

What’s clear is this: confusion about facts is now a defining feature of American life.

In an age of AI-generated content, politicized headlines, and social media distortion, it’s never been more important to think critically, ask questions, and verify sources. Democracy doesn’t require blind faith in the media—it requires engaged citizens willing to seek the truth.

That’s what we’re here to do, together.