Young People Are Tuning Out the News — and Why It Matters

A Generation Disconnecting from Current Events

The Reuters Institute Digital News Report, presented at Deutsche Welle's prestigious Global Media Forum, has sounded a stark alarm: an alarming and growing proportion of young people across the world are actively choosing to disengage from the news. The findings are not merely a reflection of changing media habits — they represent a profound challenge to the very foundations of an informed democratic society.

The report, compiled annually by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, draws on survey data from tens of thousands of respondents across more than 40 countries. This year's edition highlights a particularly troubling trend among adults under 35, many of whom report actively avoiding news consumption due to feelings of overwhelm, distrust, and emotional fatigue.

What the Data Reveals

According to the findings, so-called 'news avoidance' — where individuals deliberately limit or entirely stop consuming news — has risen dramatically across multiple demographics. While older generations continue to engage with traditional and digital news sources, younger audiences are increasingly turning away. In some countries surveyed, more than half of respondents aged 18 to 24 reported avoiding news at least sometimes, with a significant portion doing so regularly.

The reasons cited are diverse but interconnected. Many young people report that the news is too focused on conflict, politics, and disaster — a relentless cycle of negativity that leaves them feeling anxious and helpless rather than informed and empowered. Others cite deep-rooted skepticism about media bias and the reliability of information. In an era of rampant misinformation and social media-driven narratives, discerning truth from fabrication has become an exhausting exercise for many.

Additionally, the proliferation of digital platforms has fundamentally altered how information reaches audiences. Short-form video content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts now competes directly with long-form journalism for attention. For many young people, these algorithmic feeds have replaced traditional news websites and broadcasts — and the news that does filter through often arrives stripped of context and nuance.

The Emotional Burden of Staying Informed

Psychologists and media researchers have coined the term 'doomscrolling' to describe the compulsive consumption of distressing news content. Paradoxically, this phenomenon sits alongside deliberate news avoidance — two sides of the same coin in a fractured information ecosystem. For many young people who have grown up through a cascade of global crises — the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, political polarization, economic instability, and ongoing regional conflicts — the news cycle can feel relentless and inescapable.

Nic Newman, a lead author of the Reuters Digital News Report, acknowledged this tension while remaining cautiously optimistic. Speaking at the Global Media Forum hosted by Deutsche Welle in Bonn, Germany, Newman emphasized that despite declining engagement, 'journalism still matters.' He argued that the challenge facing the industry is not irrelevance, but rather a failure to adequately connect with younger audiences on their own terms.

'The issue is not that young people don't care about the world,' Newman noted. 'They care deeply. But they want journalism that speaks to their lives, their concerns, and their futures. They want solutions journalism, not just problems journalism.'

Regional Variations and Global Implications

The trend is not uniform across regions, and the report reveals significant geographical variation. In the Nordic countries — long held up as models of high media trust — news avoidance remains comparatively low, though it is rising. In contrast, countries with politically polarized media environments, such as the United States, Brazil, and Hungary, show markedly higher rates of avoidance across all age groups, with young people particularly susceptible.

In the Global South, the dynamics are often different. In parts of Africa and South Asia, where access to credible local journalism remains a challenge due to infrastructure and financial constraints, young people may not have the luxury of choosing to avoid news — they struggle to access quality information in the first place. This creates a two-tiered information crisis: over-saturation in the Global North, and chronic under-supply in the Global South.

The geopolitical implications of widespread news avoidance among youth are significant. An uninformed or disengaged citizenry is more susceptible to manipulation, disinformation campaigns, and authoritarian narratives. Autocratic governments and state-sponsored information operations have long understood that controlling or undermining the media is a critical tool of power. When citizens voluntarily disengage from credible journalism, they inadvertently create vacuums that bad actors are eager to fill.

The Business Crisis Deepening the Problem

The editorial crisis facing journalism is compounded by a severe financial one. As digital advertising revenue migrated to tech platforms like Google and Meta over the past two decades, traditional news organizations were hollowed out. Local newsrooms — often the most trusted and community-relevant sources — have been decimated. In the United States alone, more than 2,500 local newspapers have closed since 2005. Similar patterns are visible across Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia.

This collapse in local journalism has arguably accelerated news avoidance, particularly among young people who find that national and international news feels remote from their immediate lives. Without robust local reporting, the connections between journalism and lived experience weaken — and with them, the motivation to stay informed.

Can Journalism Adapt?

Despite the grim statistics, the Reuters report also points to potential pathways forward. Younger audiences are not monolithic in their disengagement. Many actively seek out specific topics they care about — climate action, social justice, mental health, economic opportunity — even as they disengage from traditional news formats. Publishers and broadcasters that have successfully tailored their output to these interests, deployed credible voices on social platforms, and invested in audience engagement have seen more promising results with younger demographics.

Public broadcasters, in particular, are being called upon to play a more proactive role. Institutions like Deutsche Welle, BBC, and NPR, which combine editorial independence with public mandates, may be uniquely positioned to bridge the gap — if they are willing to experiment and innovate in how they reach and engage young audiences.

The DW Global Media Forum itself reflects this imperative — a gathering of media professionals, policymakers, and civil society representatives grappling collectively with the future of journalism in an increasingly fragmented world. The conversation is urgent, and the stakes are high.