Report: People don't trust News on Social Media

In findings that will surprise few, it turns out many of us no longer trust news sources on social media networks.

Stop the Press

The Edelman Trust Barometer, now in its 18th year, surveyed over 1000 social media users in the UK.

The report found less than one quarter (24%) of users trust news sources from platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This has led to a striking 13-point rise in support of traditional media, which 61% of respondents approve of. This is the highest level of approval for traditional media since 2012.

Digital Ink

Edelman revealed that 64% of respondents believe social media companies did not face tight enough regulation, while 69% said social networks should do more to prevent bullying.

Over half those surveyed admitted to being worried about exposure to so-called fake news on social sites, with 42% reporting they skimmed headlines on social, but did not click through.

Whether it's a moral or monetary decision, it seems the tech giants are listening.

Mark Zuckerberg recently announced a massive overhaul to Facebook's algorithm, to promote more meaningful, trustworthy news sources. Twitter has also released more details about the infiltration of Russian bots during the 2016 US Presidential Election.