Concern around disinformation is leading to distrust and overwhelm.

A new survey by digital magazine Readly reveals that nearly half (44%) of UK adults have intentionally taken a break from news due to information fatigue. This coincides with Meta's decision to reduce its fact-checking efforts across platforms early this year.

Rather than apathy, respondents describe a lack of trust in the media landscape. Two-thirds of UK citizens are worried about the impact of disinformation on democracy, while half worry about its global and national security implications.

The survey also highlights growing scepticism about global health coverage, with half of respondents expressing doubts about the reliability of information on this topic. Chris Couchman, head of content at Readly, emphasises the critical role of journalists in rebuilding trust: "When trust erodes, uncertainty grows, and that makes societies more vulnerable to targeted disinformation. The data underlines the essential role that editorial teams play in countering disinformation and make trustworthy formats more visible."

A third of respondents described the overwhelming nature of negative news headlines, prompting many to seek lighter content such as celebrity and lifestyle features. Couchman warns of the societal risks of cutting fact-checking for economic reasons, urging journalists, educational institutions and news platforms to address the issue.