Overview and key findings of the 2026 Digital News Report

As the world changes at accelerating speed, news media report and update on these events around the clock, jostling for a share of the four to five hours each day that people devote to their smartphones. For some, this means new opportunities to stay close to news stories as they unfold; for others, it risks creating a sense of overload. 

Our 2025 report was characterised by relative stability in many of the indicators we have tracked for over a decade. The data this year point to greater volatility, reflecting this heightened sense of uncertainty. We see a range of responses: anxiety, disengagement, and cynicism, but also openness to new sources and formats, and continued belief in what news at its best can offer. | Start reading

Key findings and panel discussion at the launch of the world’s most comprehensive study on news consumption worldwide.

United States. Only a quarter (25%) of people now say they trust the news most of the time.  

Thailand, Indonesia, Peru, and South Africa are the countries with the highest levels of online news video use (all over 80%).  

South Korea stands out with a relatively higher proportion of people saying they always or often click through to the original source of an AI chatbot news answer (8%).

Malaysia, Mexico and Nigeria are among the countries in which the highest proportions of people say they prefer news from sources that share their point of view.