via axios:
Americans view made-up news and information as a bigger problem than other critical issues, including terrorism, immigration, climate change and racism, according to a new survey from Pew Research Center.
Why it matters: The survey finds that Americans feel more worried today about fake news because it’s undermining their trust in key institutions, like government and the media.
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The only issues that rank higher than made-up news and information as “very big problems in the country today” are drug addiction, the affordability of health care, the U.S. political system, and the income gap.
By the numbers: An overwhelming majority of Americans (68%) believe made-up news and information has a big impact on their trust in government, according to the survey.
- More than half (54%) of Americans say it impacts their confidence in other Americans.
- More than half (51%) say it impacts the ability of political leaders to get work done.
Between the lines: While most Americans blame political leaders and activist groups for creating misinformation over journalists, most say “the news media” is the most responsible for fixing the problem.
- Republicans blame journalists more for the issue than Democrats, according to the survey.