FACT CHECK #W1CDUY-G

WHAT WE FOUND

Multiple high-credibility sources confirm that 64% of U.S. adults believe fabricated news stories cause a great deal of confusion regarding the basic facts of current events 128. This finding originates from a Pew Research Center survey conducted in December 2016 379. The data shows that this sentiment is shared widely across various demographic groups, including different income levels, education levels, and partisan affiliations 45. Recent reports as of 2026 continue to cite this 64% figure as a primary indicator of American concern over the impact of misinformation on public understanding 6.

SOURCES

1. 1 · pewresearch.orgACADEMIC
   Many Americans Believe Fake News Is Sowing Confusion | Pew Research Center

   TIER A

2. 2 · libguides.southernct.eduACADEMIC
   Fake News - Fake News, Bad Science, and Predatory Journals: Information Evaluation for the Academic - SCSU Hilton C. Buley Library at Southern Connecticut State University

   TIER A

3. 3 · en.wikipedia.orgWEB
   Fake news - Wikipedia

   TIER B

4. 4 · committees.parliament.ukWEB
   FKN0041 - Evidence on Disinformation and 'fake news'

   TIER B

5. 5 · benton.orgWEB
   Many Americans Believe Fake News Is Sowing Confusion | Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

   TIER B

6. 6 · demandsage.comWEB
   19 Fake News Statistics 2026 [Global Reports & Influence]

   TIER B

7. 7 · americanpublicsquare.orgWEB
   Fake News - American Public Square

   TIER B

8. 8 · politico.comWEB
   Pew: Majority of Americans say fake news sows confusion of basic facts - POLITICO

   TIER B

9. 9 · wtvr.comWEB
   Fake news is sowing confusion, two-thirds of Americans say

   TIER B