WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new Pew Research Center report finds Americans see staying informed as a civic duty — especially when it comes to voting — but many feel overwhelmed, skeptical and increasingly selective about how they consume news. Eight-in-ten adults say Americans have a responsibility to be informed when they vote, yet far fewer say regularly following the news is highly important in general. Roughly half say they can stay informed even if they don’t actively seek out news.
The study shows Americans are evenly split between those who mostly seek out news and those who mostly come across it. At the same time, 52% say they are worn out by the amount of news available, and nearly half say most of what they encounter isn’t relevant to their lives. Two-thirds report they have stopped getting news from a specific source at some point, and six-in-ten say they’ve reduced their overall news intake.
Trust and verification are central themes. Nearly all Americans say it’s important to “do your own research” to check the accuracy of news, and most express confidence in their own ability to verify information — but far fewer are confident that others can do the same. A plurality say individuals themselves should bear primary responsibility for knowing how to check whether news is accurate.
The report also highlights generational divides. Younger adults are far more likely to come across news incidentally through digital platforms, report higher levels of news fatigue, and place less importance on regularly following the news compared to older Americans, who are more likely to actively seek it out and view it as a civic obligation.
Financial support for journalism remains limited. Just 8% say Americans have a responsibility to pay for news, and only 16% report paying for it in the past year. Most say news organizations should rely primarily on advertising rather than subscriptions or government funding.
The findings are based on a December 2025 survey of 3,560 U.S. adults and focus groups conducted earlier in the year as part of the Pew-Knight Initiative.
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