Fake news is an ongoing problem, and consumers are concerned. A survey held in the U.S. revealed that the majority of responding U.S. adults believed that traditional major news sources reported fake news regularly or occasionally. Democrats were by far the most likely group to say that such news media does not report fake news at all, whilst most Republicans said they thought traditional news media regularly published false stories.
The politics of fake news
Although the presence of false or inaccurate information in the news media affects consumers of all ages and social classes, fake news is partially a political issue.
There has been talk of the U.S. government restricting online fake news. However, most U.S. adults consider government intervention in such matters to be inappropriate and believe that freedom of information should be protected even when that information is false.
Perceived frequency of traditional major news sources reporting fake news stories in the United States as of March 2018
This question was phrased by the source as follows: "Do you think some traditional major news sources like TV and newspapers ever report fake news stories, or not? [If YES: Do they do this regularly or just occasionally?]"
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Monmouth University. (April 2, 2018). Perceived frequency of traditional major news sources reporting fake news stories in the United States as of March 2018 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/678000/fake-news-media-frequency/
Monmouth University. "Perceived frequency of traditional major news sources reporting fake news stories in the United States as of March 2018." Chart. April 2, 2018. Statista. Accessed October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/678000/fake-news-media-frequency/
Monmouth University. (2018). Perceived frequency of traditional major news sources reporting fake news stories in the United States as of March 2018. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/678000/fake-news-media-frequency/
Monmouth University. "Perceived Frequency of Traditional Major News Sources Reporting Fake News Stories in The United States as of March 2018." Statista, Statista Inc., 2 Apr 2018, https://www.statista.com/statistics/678000/fake-news-media-frequency/
Monmouth University, Perceived frequency of traditional major news sources reporting fake news stories in the United States as of March 2018 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/678000/fake-news-media-frequency/ (last visited October 31, 2024)
Perceived frequency of traditional major news sources reporting fake news stories in the United States as of March 2018 [Graph], Monmouth University, April 2, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/678000/fake-news-media-frequency/
