More than two thirds of Germans avoid news: what's behind it?

More than two thirds of Germans avoid news: what's behind it?

The “Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025” shows alarming trends in how German internet users consume news. According to the report, the results of which were published in Hamburg on June 17, 2025, 71% of online users actively avoid news. This is an increase from 69% last year. The reasons for this news avoidance are complex. A central motive is the fear that news will have a negative impact on one's own mood; 48% of respondents cited this as the main reason.

The exhaustion caused by reporting on wars and conflicts is particularly noticeable. 39% of news avoiders feel overwhelmed by the volume of such reports. Media researcher Julia Behre emphasizes that avoiding news does not mean completely refraining from absorbing information, but is often a selective selection of topics and sources.

Demographic differences in news avoidance

The behavior of news avoiders varies greatly between age groups. Older people, particularly those over 55, are more likely to admit that they find coverage of conflicts too comprehensive; here it is 49%. In contrast, younger people aged 18 to 24 often find news irrelevant to their lives (19%) or are exhausted by the volume of reports (43%).

Despite these trends in the news market, general interest in news remains stable. 55% of adult internet users in Germany are highly interested in news, and 91% consume it more than once a week, a slight increase compared to 89% in 2024. Co-author Sascha Hölig emphasizes that news avoidance often occurs out of a need for self-protection to maintain mental well-being.

Trust in news sources

The results of the study also show a high level of trust in news in Germany, with 45% of the adult online population trusting the majority of news. Public service news as well as local and regional newspapers enjoy the greatest prestige. However, 54% of respondents feel uncomfortable when it comes to AI-generated news. On the other hand, 34% accept news that was created with the support of AI, but mostly by human journalists.

In terms of news sources used, the data shows that social media plays a significant role. 66% of the online adult population consumes news online at least once a week, with 33% citing social media as their primary source. The social platforms are particularly popular among 18 to 24 year olds; here 50% use it for news. The most important platforms are YouTube, WhatsApp and Facebook, followed by Instagram, which is used regularly by 29% of young people.

Despite the growing trust in certain news sources, 57% of respondents see TikTok as particularly dangerous for spreading false news. These concerns about social media reinforce the already existing trends of news avoidance.