One in Three Trust Algorithms Over Journalists for News

A significant portion of the population, about one in three people, passively consumes news, believing "news finds me," according to research from Penn State University. These individuals tend to trust social media feeds and algorithmic recommendations as much as they trust professional journalists. The study, published in "Social Media & Society," involved 244 participants who were exposed to news content recommended by editors, social media friends, or algorithms. Results showed that those who believed "news finds me" rated algorithmically or socially recommended content as highly credible as editor-recommended news. Conversely, those less convinced of this passive news consumption approached information sources more critically, valuing journalist-provided content more. "The good news is that, generally speaking, professionals are still valued," said lead author Prof. S. Shyam Sundar. "However, people who tend to rely on news that finds them, and there are more and more of them, are starting to trust algorithms and social media friends as their primary sources of information."

This growing reliance on algorithmic curation and social networks carries potential risks. Researchers highlight that this passive approach can make individuals more susceptible to misinformation and its spread. When people equate the credibility of algorithms and social platforms with that of journalists, it becomes easier for purveyors of false content to manipulate the digital space. The study suggests that this trend could lead to a less informed public, making it harder to discern factual reporting from fabricated content.

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The good news is that, generally speaking, professionals are still valued. However, people who tend to rely on news that finds them, and there are more and more of them, are starting to trust algorithms and social media friends as their primary sources of information.