Info-Monitor: A quarter of Germans consciously avoid the news

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A large proportion of the population in Germany continues to have a need for reliable and serious information on current affairs. This is according to the Info-Monitor 2025, which was published by the state media authorities on Thursday. More than 90 percent of German citizens are interested in current affairs, with 96 percent obtaining information from the media at least once a week. However, just under a quarter (24%) have also consciously avoided the news recently, most of them (67%) due to the many reports with negative connotations. A fifth are also tired of news due to a lack of trust in the sender and content.

According to the representative study, people under 45 are slightly more likely to say that they sometimes deliberately avoid news. A lack of interest is the second most common reason for those under 30 and a lack of trust for older people. However, when looking at the under-30s, it is also noticeable: Proportionally, increased news usage outweighs news avoidance.

Around a tenth "look cynically" at established media such as public broadcasters or the daily press. They see them as the "mouthpiece of the powerful" or criticize "too many rules of thought". Just under a fifth tend to agree with such statements. Media scepticism is less widespread among those under 30 and respondents with a high level of formal education. In particular, respondents who sympathize with the AfD distrust the media. On the other hand, supporters of the Greens show a particularly high level of trust in the media.

34 percent do not see themselves reflected

A good four in ten respondents (42%) state that their information consumption behavior in relation to current affairs has changed in the past five years. They spontaneously cite increased digital news usage in particular.

At the presentation of the Info-Monitor, Peter Matuschek, Managing Director of the opinion institute Forsa, which was commissioned to conduct the survey, explained that the established media only met the need for information on current affairs for some German citizens. 34 percent no longer saw themselves reflected in the reporting, while 59 percent thought the choice of topics was good. Although the established media were predominantly rated positively in terms of speed, comprehensibility, objectivity and trustworthiness, "they were also perceived ambivalently": 37% considered them to be politically controlled and not economically independent.

A clear majority (eight out of ten) are satisfied with democracy in Germany and the political system based on the Basic Law. However, only six out of ten also approve of how democracy actually works in Germany. According to Matuschek, there is generally a clear correlation between trust in the media and satisfaction with democracy. Those who disapprove are dissatisfied with the entire political system. However, fundamental criticism of the media goes beyond this group: there are also reservations about the established media in the broad middle of society.

Trust in social media: Not at all

The Internet has become the most important information medium. This was already shown by the media weighting study conducted by the media watchdogs last year, which the latter further developed with the new format, for example by including political attitudes. However, social media are not yet an alternative for the vast majority of people, Matuschek explained. Although they now have a firm place when it comes to obtaining information on current affairs, this is often done on the side. When it comes to targeted searches for news, public broadcasters are in the lead with 64 percent for TV and 37 percent for radio. This is followed by search engines, newspapers and then social networks (17%).

Trust in such online platforms is very low. The only positive aspect rated by citizens is speed (67%). Otherwise, negative attributions dominate. More than four out of five consider social networks to be less trustworthy or not trustworthy at all (49%). They cite fake news, disinformation, polarization and defamation as well as a lack of moderation and control as reasons. Matuschek emphasized that social media users do not complain about a lack of freedom in the media, but rather a lack of protection against attacks.

YouTube is the leading source of information for social media and streaming services across all age groups with a usage rate of 56%. WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook underline the relevance of Meta as a news provider with shares of 47% to 31%. The under-30s primarily use YouTube, Instagram and Spotify.

Media watchdogs speak of a wake-up call

"We are facing major challenges in terms of our social interaction," said Albrecht Bähr, Head of the Conference of Committee Chairmen of the State Media Authorities, interpreting the results. He expressed concern with regard to developments in the USA, where X and Meta have scaled back their moderation efforts in light of the change of power in the White House.

"Algorithms influence our idea of reality," Bähr pointed out. However, online platforms should not be allowed to form uncontrolled newsrooms, meaning that clear guidelines for algorithmic control are just as important as strengthening media literacy across all generations. Considering the wake-up call, it is important to promote quality journalism. The growing group of people who are rejecting the established media "must make us sit up and take notice".

The online survey for the Info Monitor was conducted between July and November 2024 in two rounds, each with over 3,000 participants.

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