--- title: "The age divide in how Americans think about news" description: "Younger adults tend to say they mostly get news because they come across it, and they're less likely to say it's important to get news regularly. " date: "2026-02-11" authors: - name: "Kirsten Eddy" job_title: "Senior Researcher" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/kirsten-eddy/" - name: "Michael Lipka" job_title: "Associate Director, Research" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/michael-lipka/" - name: "Katerina Eva Matsa" job_title: "Director, News and Information Research" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/katerina-eva-matsa/" - name: "Christopher St. Aubin" job_title: "Research Analyst" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/christopher-st-aubin/" - name: "Elisa Shearer" job_title: "Senior Researcher" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/elisa-shearer/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2026/02/11/the-age-divide-in-how-americans-think-about-news/" categories: - "Facts & Fact Checking" - "Media Attitudes" - "News Habits & Media" - "Trust in Media" --- # The age divide in how Americans think about news **About this research** This report from the [Pew-Knight Initiative](https://www.pewresearch.org/collections/pew-knight-initiative/) looks at how Americans think about their role in the news environment. **Why we did this** With information coming at people faster than ever before, and a seemingly endless array of options competing for Americans’ attention and trust, we wanted to evaluate the attitudes and behaviors of regular people when it comes to their role in navigating the news. In some ways, this is a natural follow-up to our recent studies on [what “news” means to the public today](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2025/05/13/what-is-news/), [how news habits are changing](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2025/12/03/young-adults-and-the-future-of-news/) and [how Americans view the role of journalists in society](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2025/08/20/how-americans-view-journalists-in-the-digital-age/). With these reports, we have looked at opinions about both sides of the relationship between news producers and news consumers in the U.S. Learn more about [Pew Research Center](https://www.pewresearch.org/about/) and our [research on news habits and media](https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/news-habits-media/). **How we did this** We surveyed 3,560 U.S. adults from Dec. 8 to 14, 2025. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s [American Trends Panel](https://www.pewresearch.org/the-american-trends-panel/). The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population. We also conducted nine online focus group discussions led by PSB Insights with 45 U.S. adults, held from June 10 to 18, 2025. These discussions do not represent the entire U.S. population. This report shares findings and quotes from the focus groups to help illustrate and add detail to the survey results. Quotes were lightly edited for spelling, punctuation and clarity. Here are the [survey questions](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PJ_2026.02.11_role-of-news-consumers_questionnaire.pdf) used for this report, the [detailed responses](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PJ_2026.02.11_role-of-news-consumers_topline.pdf) and the [methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2026/02/11/methodology-role-of-news-consumers/). This is a Pew Research Center report from the Pew-Knight Initiative, a research program funded jointly by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Find related reports online at [https://www.pewresearch.org/pew-knight/](https://www.pewresearch.org/pew-knight/). Age is one of the clearest dividing lines in Americans’ relationship with news. Differences show up in how people encounter news, how much importance they place on getting news regularly, and how news fits into their daily lives and civic responsibilities. These findings are based on a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults aimed at understanding how Americans are thinking about and experiencing news today. *Read [key findings](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2026/02/11/americans-complicated-relationship-with-news/) from the full study.* ### Most U.S. adults under 30 usually come across news, while most ages 65 and older actively seek it out *% of U.S. adults who say ...* | | They mostly get news because they're looking for it | They mostly get news because they happen to come across it | | --- | --- | --- | | All U.S. adults | 50% | 49% | | | | | | Ages 18-29 | 27% | 73% | | 30-49 | 42% | 57% | | 50-64 | 60% | 40% | | 65+ | 73% | 26% | Note: Respondents who did not answer are not shown. Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025.“Americans’ Complicated Relationship With News” Perhaps the starkest divergence involves [the way people of different ages encounter news](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2025/12/03/young-adults-and-the-future-of-news/). Older Americans are much more likely to be news seekers – people who say they mostly get news because they are looking for it. Younger adults tend to get news [because they happen to come across it](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2026/02/11/americans-complicated-relationship-with-news/#americans-are-split-in-whether-they-mostly-seek-news-or-come-across-it). About three-quarters of adults under 30 (73%) say they mostly get news because they **happen to come across it. **An identical share of those 65 and older (73%) say they mostly get news because they are **looking for it.** Similarly, the two youngest age groups – those ages 18 to 29 and 30 to 49 – are less likely than older adults to say they closely follow international, national or local news. These differing approaches are also reflected in how Americans think about staying informed and in how much importance they place on regularly consuming news. We asked respondents which comes closer to their view: whether they need to **actively follow the news to stay informed,** or if they can **stay informed even if they don’t actively follow the news.** Adults ages 65 and older are the only age group in which a majority say they need to actively follow it. All other age groups are more likely to say the opposite. “I think [news] follows me,” a woman in her 20s said in focus group discussions held as part of this study. “I feel like I can’t get away from information nowadays.” ### Older and younger Americans differ on importance of getting news regularly *% of U.S. adults who say it is extremely or very important for people to get news on a regular basis* | Age | Percent | | --- | --- | | 65+ | 65% | | 50-64 | 50% | | 30-49 | 40% | | Ages 18-29 | 35% | Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025. “Americans’ Complicated Relationship With News” The survey also included a series of questions about whether people think different news habits are important. Younger adults are less likely to say it’s important to **get news on a regular basis **at all. About a third of adults under 30 (35%) and 40% of those ages 30 to 49 see this as extremely or very important for people to do, compared with half of those 50 to 64 and 65% of those 65 and older. Meanwhile, majorities of adults in all age groups say it is extremely or very important to **avoid sharing inaccurate information** and to **get news from multiple sources.** And about half or more in each age group say the same about **getting news from sources with a range of political views.** “The right way [to consume news] to me is to consume it from multiple sources, on every side, so that you can get the facts, make sure the facts align all across,” a man in his 30s said. ### Age differences in views toward news as a civic duty Americans of different age groups also differ in the responsibilities they associate with being a good member of society – including following the news. Older adults are more likely than younger adults to consider several civic duties highly important, such as voting in elections, paying taxes and serving jury duty. But one of the starkest differences involves following the news: Those ages 65 and older are far more likely than adults under 50 to say **following the news is extremely or very important to being a good member of society** (58% vs. 32%). ### Older adults are more likely than young adults to consider a variety of civic duties highly important – including following the news *% of U.S. adults who say that to be a good member of society, it is extremely or very important to …* | | Ages 65+ | 50-64 | 30-49 | 18-29 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Vote in elections | 89% | 83% | 69% | 64% | | Respect the opinions and beliefs of those you disagree with | 64% | 63% | 61% | 61% | | Pay taxes | 76% | 72% | 58% | 55% | | Volunteer to help others | 56% | 55% | 53% | 55% | | Serve jury duty if you are called | 71% | 63% | 50% | 45% | | Follow the news | 58% | 43% | 32% | 32% | | Attend rallies or protests on issues you think are important | 14% | 13% | 17% | 22% | Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025.“Americans’ Complicated Relationship With News” “Because we have to vote,” a woman in her 50s said. “We’re going to have to make decisions, ongoing, about who to trust and what to do and where to put our money and how to protect our safety. … So the news is important for that.” Even so, **following news ranks toward the bottom of the list of the civic activities we asked about for all age groups.** ### Younger adults report less time for news and find it less relevant Adults under 50 are more likely than those 50 and older to say **they don’t have enough time to follow the news.** ### Younger adults are more likely to cite obstacles to following the news *% of U.S. adults who say ...* | | I don't have enough time to follow the news | I have enough time to follow the news | | --- | --- | --- | | Ages 18-29 | 44% | 45% | | 30-49 | 43% | 45% | | 50-64 | 30% | 63% | | 65+ | 18% | 72% | | | | | | | I am worn out by the amount of news there is these days | I am not worn out by the amount of news there is these days | | Ages 18-29 | 55% | 32% | | 30-49 | 58% | 29% | | 50-64 | 49% | 38% | | 65+ | 42% | 41% | | | | | | | Most of the news I come across is not relevant to my life | Most of the news I come across is relevant to my life | | Ages 18-29 | 52% | 33% | | 30-49 | 51% | 31% | | 50-64 | 46% | 38% | | 65+ | 41% | 41% | Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025.“Americans’ Complicated Relationship With News” **News fatigue is also higher** among younger Americans: 57% of adults under 50 say they’re worn out by the amount of news there is these days, compared with 46% of those ages 50 and older. ([A similar question we asked in 2019](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/02/26/almost-seven-in-ten-americans-have-news-fatigue-more-among-republicans/) did not find age differences.) “I get so tired of it, I have to turn away,” a man in his 40s said. “What’s that saying? Was it one of those mafia movies? ‘I try to get away, you pull me right back in.’” About half of adults under 50 (52%) say **most of the news they come across is not relevant to their lives,** compared with 44% of those 50 and older. And one-in-five adults under 30 say it’s **hard for them to understand the news they come across,** slightly higher than all other age groups. “There’s some times where … you may not have the time to really understand something at the level that it needs to be understood,” a man in his 40s explained. “There are certain stories that … you can’t consume the entire thing in two minutes to really understand it. You have to put more time into it. Not everyone has that.” --- **Next:** [What does it mean to ‘do your own research,’ and how often do Americans do it?](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2026/02/11/what-does-it-mean-to-do-your-own-research-and-how-often-do-americans-do-it.md)