Forget the stress, abandon the news, it's the new trend
Majority of Internet Users Shy Away from News Consumption (Approximately 70 Percent)
In Germany, more people than ever before are deliberately dodging the news, according to "Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025." The Leibniz Institute for Media Research (Hans-Bredow-Institute) in Hamburg-Rotherbaum was the local partner for the survey.
A whopping 71% of adult web users admitted to occasionally avoiding news. This number was only 69% in 2024.
Weighed down by endless wars
One of the primary reasons for shunning news is its impact on one's emotional wellbeing (48%). Furthermore, 39% of news evaders claim they're overwhelmed by all the reports about wars and conflicts.
"People who say they actively avoid news don't necessarily mean they're not consuming any news at all," clarified media researcher Julia Behre, reporting co-author. "They're more likely to selectively avoid certain news topics, sources, or news at specific times."
Youth: "What does this have to do with me anyway?"
Older age groups, those over 55 years old, are more likely to cite wars and conflicts as the reason for tuning out (49%). In contrast, 18- to 24-year-olds complain about being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of news (43%). Additionally, young people argue that the news doesn't seem relevant to their lives and that they struggle to take meaningful action based on the information provided (both 19%).
The general interest in news remains constant in 2025. As in the previous year, 55% of internet users in Germany said they have a very high or extreme interest in news. The overall reach of news also remains high: 91% consume news at least once a week (2024: 89%).
Staying informed... but not too much
"This avoidance behavior doesn't suggest general negligence," explained co-author Sascha Hölig. "It shows that people prioritize their mental wellbeing. They keep tabs on global and domestic events and local news, but not every day, more like every two days. Most people do this as a form of self-preservation to avoid being constantly bombarded with more war, violence, and death."
Not all AI news is welcome
The report also delved into people's attitudes towards artificial intelligence (AI). The use of AI in journalism is largely met with wariness. 54% of respondents feel uneasy or extremely uneasy about news primarily generated by AI.
There is slightly more acceptance for news primarily crafted by human journalists with some help from AI (34%).
Since 2012, the "Reuters Institute Digital News Survey" has annually examined the general tendencies and national quirks of news consumption in 48 countries. Over 2,000 people per country participated in the 2025 survey.
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In the realm of Germany's news consumption, politics and general news are being increasingly bypassed as 39% of news evaders express feeling overwhelmed by all the reports about wars and conflicts. However, younger generations, aged 18-24, are more concerned about the sheer volume of news overwhelming them, rather than conflicts (43%).
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