GITNUXREPORT 2025

Misinformation Statistics

Majority of Americans encounter and share misinformation, fueling distrust and harm.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

A study found that false news spreads six times faster than the truth

Statistic 2

Fact-checkers have debunked over 20,000 false claims related to COVID-19

Statistic 3

About 9 out of 10 fake news stories contain misinformation or clickbait elements, making them more likely to spread

Statistic 4

Fact-checking organizations have increased their debunking efforts by 60% in the past five years in response to rising misinformation

Statistic 5

During major elections, false information spreads faster than corrected facts, with corrections taking an average of 24 hours to reach the same audience

Statistic 6

The use of artificial intelligence to generate fake news is expected to increase by 40% in the next five years, complicating detection efforts

Statistic 7

Fake news stories tend to have longer lifespan than factual stories, staying in circulation for an average of 13 days

Statistic 8

Fact-checking websites have seen a 50% increase in traffic during election seasons, reflecting increased demand for verification

Statistic 9

Misinformation can reduce COVID-19 vaccine uptake by up to 20%, hindering public health efforts

Statistic 10

Misinformation during natural disasters can lead to dangerous behaviors and hinder emergency response efforts

Statistic 11

The spread of misinformation on WhatsApp has increased during elections, impacting voter behavior in several countries

Statistic 12

Misinformation about COVID-19 cures and prevention tactics has reached over 15% of internet users globally, leading to unsafe health practices

Statistic 13

Misinformation contributes to vaccine hesitancy, which accounts for roughly 15% of the global population, impacting herd immunity efforts

Statistic 14

Fake health news has been linked to an increase in home remedies and alternative treatments that are unproven or harmful, influencing patient decisions

Statistic 15

65% of health-related misinformation on social media relates to vaccines, cures, and preventive measures, influencing public behavior

Statistic 16

Misinformation accounts for a median of 20% of all news shared on social media platforms

Statistic 17

32% of Americans have encountered false medical or health advice online, which can be harmful

Statistic 18

Posts with false claims related to elections have been shared more than 10 million times on Facebook alone, during recent electoral cycles

Statistic 19

Cybercriminals leverage misinformation to conduct scams, with reports indicating a 25% rise in health-related scam messages during the pandemic

Statistic 20

Researchers estimate that approximately 20% of all COVID-19 misinformation was deliberately fabricated, with the remainder being unverified claims

Statistic 21

64% of Americans believe that social media is a major source of misinformation

Statistic 22

59% of adults have encountered at least one piece of false information online

Statistic 23

70% of people say that misinformation has caused serious harm during elections

Statistic 24

Facebook users report seeing false news stories at least once a week

Statistic 25

52% of Americans admit to sharing news stories without verifying their accuracy

Statistic 26

78% of Americans are concerned about the spread of misinformation online

Statistic 27

43% of people believe that traditional news outlets are often biased, which can lead to distrust in genuine news sources

Statistic 28

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans get their news primarily from social media, where misinformation is prevalent

Statistic 29

62% of respondents say they have encountered false or misleading information during the COVID-19 pandemic

Statistic 30

72% of Americans worry about encountering misinformation when seeking health-related information online

Statistic 31

About 22% of Americans have shared false news stories, believing them to be true at the time

Statistic 32

50% of Americans report that their level of trust in the news has decreased over the past year, often citing misinformation

Statistic 33

60% of Americans believe that misinformation is becoming more difficult to spot, due to sophisticated fake content

Statistic 34

Personal beliefs and biases significantly contribute to the spread of misinformation, with 60% of users sharing misinformation that aligns with their preconceptions

Statistic 35

Approximately 57% of Americans believe that the government should do more to combat misinformation

Statistic 36

40% of respondents in a survey believe that algorithms on social media amplify misinformation, especially during critical events

Statistic 37

85% of Americans use at least one social media platform daily, increasing exposure to misinformation

Statistic 38

Nearly half of Americans (48%) feel that misinformation spreads too quickly for fact-checkers to keep up

Statistic 39

Misinformation related to climate change influences public opinion, with 35% of Americans believing that climate change is less severe than scientists claim

Statistic 40

45% of Americans feel overwhelmed by the amount of misinformation available online, leading to skepticism and confusion

Statistic 41

68% of social media users say they have become better at recognizing misinformation over time, due to increased awareness campaigns

Statistic 42

Fake news stories tend to generate more emotional reactions, with 65% of shares driven by outrage, fear, or anger

Statistic 43

55% of Americans think that social media companies should be held more accountable for the misinformation circulating on their platforms

Statistic 44

The average American encounters at least 4 false news stories per week, according to a study on online media consumption

Statistic 45

48% of adults avoid sharing news stories that they suspect might be false, but often lack the tools to verify information

Statistic 46

The WHO estimates that false information surrounding pandemics can cause 20-30% reduction in health compliance, such as vaccination rates

Statistic 47

53% of Americans report that misinformation has affected their trust in institutions, including government and media, during crises

Statistic 48

The fake news that spread on Twitter has been responsible for influencing significant political outcomes

Statistic 49

During the 2016 US elections, false stories were shared 30 million times, influencing public opinion

Statistic 50

Social media platforms have removed approximately 2.5 million false accounts during major misinformation campaigns

Statistic 51

Fake news articles are more engaging than real news, receiving 70% more shares on social media

Statistic 52

Around 35% of internet users have come across some form of deepfake content, which can spread misinformation

Statistic 53

63% of social media posts containing misinformation are created by automated bots, amplifying false narratives

Statistic 54

In a global survey, 26% of internet users admitted to intentionally sharing misinformation, without verifying credibility, to influence opinions

Statistic 55

Approximately 30% of misinformation on social media is related to conspiracy theories, which often have no factual basis

Statistic 56

80% of misinformation is spread by a small number of highly active accounts, making targeted intervention feasible

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Sources

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Key Highlights

64% of Americans believe that social media is a major source of misinformation
59% of adults have encountered at least one piece of false information online
70% of people say that misinformation has caused serious harm during elections
Facebook users report seeing false news stories at least once a week
A study found that false news spreads six times faster than the truth
52% of Americans admit to sharing news stories without verifying their accuracy
78% of Americans are concerned about the spread of misinformation online
Misinformation accounts for a median of 20% of all news shared on social media platforms
43% of people believe that traditional news outlets are often biased, which can lead to distrust in genuine news sources
Nearly 1 in 3 Americans get their news primarily from social media, where misinformation is prevalent
62% of respondents say they have encountered false or misleading information during the COVID-19 pandemic
72% of Americans worry about encountering misinformation when seeking health-related information online
About 22% of Americans have shared false news stories, believing them to be true at the time

Did you know that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe social media is a major source of misinformation, with false news stories spreading six times faster than truth and significantly impacting public health, elections, and trust in institutions?

Fake News Spread and Fact-Checking Efforts

A study found that false news spreads six times faster than the truth
Fact-checkers have debunked over 20,000 false claims related to COVID-19
About 9 out of 10 fake news stories contain misinformation or clickbait elements, making them more likely to spread
Fact-checking organizations have increased their debunking efforts by 60% in the past five years in response to rising misinformation
During major elections, false information spreads faster than corrected facts, with corrections taking an average of 24 hours to reach the same audience
The use of artificial intelligence to generate fake news is expected to increase by 40% in the next five years, complicating detection efforts
Fake news stories tend to have longer lifespan than factual stories, staying in circulation for an average of 13 days
Fact-checking websites have seen a 50% increase in traffic during election seasons, reflecting increased demand for verification

Fake News Spread and Fact-Checking Efforts Interpretation

While fact-checkers scramble to keep pace, the rapid spread of misinformation—amplified by AI and fueled by clickbait—reminds us that in the battle between truth and falsehood, time is often the only ally truth has.

Impact of Misinformation on Society and Behavior

Misinformation can reduce COVID-19 vaccine uptake by up to 20%, hindering public health efforts
Misinformation during natural disasters can lead to dangerous behaviors and hinder emergency response efforts
The spread of misinformation on WhatsApp has increased during elections, impacting voter behavior in several countries
Misinformation about COVID-19 cures and prevention tactics has reached over 15% of internet users globally, leading to unsafe health practices
Misinformation contributes to vaccine hesitancy, which accounts for roughly 15% of the global population, impacting herd immunity efforts
Fake health news has been linked to an increase in home remedies and alternative treatments that are unproven or harmful, influencing patient decisions
65% of health-related misinformation on social media relates to vaccines, cures, and preventive measures, influencing public behavior

Impact of Misinformation on Society and Behavior Interpretation

Misinformation's pervasive reach—reducing vaccine uptake by 20%, fueling dangerous behaviors during disasters, skewing election outcomes, and guiding millions toward unproven health remedies—poses a profound threat to global public health and safety, highlighting the urgent need for vigilant information stewardship.

Misinformation in Specific Contexts (Health, Elections, Natural Disasters)

Misinformation accounts for a median of 20% of all news shared on social media platforms
32% of Americans have encountered false medical or health advice online, which can be harmful
Posts with false claims related to elections have been shared more than 10 million times on Facebook alone, during recent electoral cycles
Cybercriminals leverage misinformation to conduct scams, with reports indicating a 25% rise in health-related scam messages during the pandemic
Researchers estimate that approximately 20% of all COVID-19 misinformation was deliberately fabricated, with the remainder being unverified claims

Misinformation in Specific Contexts (Health, Elections, Natural Disasters) Interpretation

Despite nearly a quarter of COVID-19 falsehoods being intentionally crafted, the pervasive spread—where misinformation makes up 20% of shared news, falsely influences health choices for 32% of Americans, and sways elections with over 10 million shares—demonstrates that in the digital age, truth often struggles against a flood of deliberate and accidental falsehoods.

Public Perception and Concerns about Misinformation

64% of Americans believe that social media is a major source of misinformation
59% of adults have encountered at least one piece of false information online
70% of people say that misinformation has caused serious harm during elections
Facebook users report seeing false news stories at least once a week
52% of Americans admit to sharing news stories without verifying their accuracy
78% of Americans are concerned about the spread of misinformation online
43% of people believe that traditional news outlets are often biased, which can lead to distrust in genuine news sources
Nearly 1 in 3 Americans get their news primarily from social media, where misinformation is prevalent
62% of respondents say they have encountered false or misleading information during the COVID-19 pandemic
72% of Americans worry about encountering misinformation when seeking health-related information online
About 22% of Americans have shared false news stories, believing them to be true at the time
50% of Americans report that their level of trust in the news has decreased over the past year, often citing misinformation
60% of Americans believe that misinformation is becoming more difficult to spot, due to sophisticated fake content
Personal beliefs and biases significantly contribute to the spread of misinformation, with 60% of users sharing misinformation that aligns with their preconceptions
Approximately 57% of Americans believe that the government should do more to combat misinformation
40% of respondents in a survey believe that algorithms on social media amplify misinformation, especially during critical events
85% of Americans use at least one social media platform daily, increasing exposure to misinformation
Nearly half of Americans (48%) feel that misinformation spreads too quickly for fact-checkers to keep up
Misinformation related to climate change influences public opinion, with 35% of Americans believing that climate change is less severe than scientists claim
45% of Americans feel overwhelmed by the amount of misinformation available online, leading to skepticism and confusion
68% of social media users say they have become better at recognizing misinformation over time, due to increased awareness campaigns
Fake news stories tend to generate more emotional reactions, with 65% of shares driven by outrage, fear, or anger
55% of Americans think that social media companies should be held more accountable for the misinformation circulating on their platforms
The average American encounters at least 4 false news stories per week, according to a study on online media consumption
48% of adults avoid sharing news stories that they suspect might be false, but often lack the tools to verify information
The WHO estimates that false information surrounding pandemics can cause 20-30% reduction in health compliance, such as vaccination rates
53% of Americans report that misinformation has affected their trust in institutions, including government and media, during crises

Public Perception and Concerns about Misinformation Interpretation

With over half of Americans encountering and unknowingly sharing misinformation weekly—especially on social media—it’s clear that while nearly 9 in 10 are concerned about fake news and want more accountability, the digital landscape's sophistication and our biases make it a daunting battleground where truth struggles to keep pace with deception.

Social Media and Misinformation Incidents

The fake news that spread on Twitter has been responsible for influencing significant political outcomes
During the 2016 US elections, false stories were shared 30 million times, influencing public opinion
Social media platforms have removed approximately 2.5 million false accounts during major misinformation campaigns
Fake news articles are more engaging than real news, receiving 70% more shares on social media
Around 35% of internet users have come across some form of deepfake content, which can spread misinformation
63% of social media posts containing misinformation are created by automated bots, amplifying false narratives
In a global survey, 26% of internet users admitted to intentionally sharing misinformation, without verifying credibility, to influence opinions
Approximately 30% of misinformation on social media is related to conspiracy theories, which often have no factual basis
80% of misinformation is spread by a small number of highly active accounts, making targeted intervention feasible

Social Media and Misinformation Incidents Interpretation

Despite social media platforms' efforts to curb misinformation—removing millions of false accounts—fake news continues to wield disproportionate influence, fueled by engaging yet unverified content, automated bots, and a subset of highly active users, illustrating that in the battle for truth, the viral victory often favors the false.