Media Mood: Two-Thirds of Germans Opt Out of the News Rat Race
Avoidance of News Prevalent Among Over Two-Thirds - Over half of the population disregards current events or news reports
Hear that? A collective from the German masses as they skim past the headlines! The "Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025" reveals that a staggering 71% of netizens in Deutschland are actively dodging the news, up from 69% last year. The Leibniz Institute for Media Research (Hans-Bredow-Institute) in Hamburg has lent a helping hand here, serving as the local partner.
Why the news-skipping hype, you ask? Well, let's dive into the reasons:
News overdose: The nation is just too darn tired!
Negative vibes are the biggest turn-off, with nearly half of the avoiders pointing fingers at the impact of news on their mood. But, boy, have the wars and conflicts sprung a whopping 39% of them into submission - they're all tapped out and tempted to snooze through the strife!
"Don't jump to conclusions," says media researcher Julia Behre, co-author of the report. "When someone say they're avoiding news, it ain't like they never read 'em at all. Nah, it's more about picking and choosing the news they consume - filtering out the stories that are bringin' 'em down."
Generation Gap: The Young'uns Aren't Feelin' the News Vibes
Oldies but goodies, folks aged 55 and up tend to cite wars and conflicts as a reason for avoiding the news (49%). But folks in the 18-24 years age bracket? That's a whole different story. They're more likely to say they're overwhelmed by the amount of news (43%) or that the news doesn't seem relevant to their lives (19%). They even voice concerns that they can't do a darn thing with the info (another 19%).
Good news, though, is that general interest in news has stayed steady in 2025. Just like last year, 55% of adult internet users in Deutschland claim they're totally or modestly news-brah-tastic. The overall news-reach is still at an all-time high too: 91% are munchin' on the news at least weekly.
Self-preservation at its finest
As Behre pointed out, avoiding news doesn't mean these folks aren't staying informed. They're simply prioritizing their mental wellbeing. Instead of devouring the news 24/7, they're opting to catch up on the world, local, and even German news every couple of days. As Behre puts it, "They ain't gotta be constantly smilin' at war and explosions and death just to feel a tiny bit better!"
AI-news: The Silicon Valley Savior or Disaster?
The report also had a thing or two to say about AI. The public ain't too hot on the idea of AI takin' over journalism, with 54% admittedly feelin' uncomfortable or darn right awkward about AI-generated news. On the flip side, there's some acceptance (34%) when AI assists rather than outright replaces human journalists.
Since 2012, the "Reuters Institute Digital News Survey" has been hittin' up 48 countries each year, unravelin' these here trends and peculiarities of news consumption. Nearly 2000 folks from each country were surveyed in 2025.
- News
- Germany
- Hamburg
Enrichment Data:
The skyrocketing news avoidance in Deutschland is a complex phenomenon resulting from many factors, as outlined in the "Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025." There is a decrease in traditional news consumption formats like television, print, and conventional news websites, which is contributing to overall avoidance[5].
News consumption has become more personalized and fragmented, driven by the smartphone revolution. This makes consuming news less predictable and integrated into routines, potentially leading to avoidance[1]. The backdrop of political uncertainty, economic instability, and global challenges, such as climate crisis, may be exacerbating feelings of burnout and discouragement related to news consumption[3].
The rise of alternative media and escalating distrust towards mainstream news sources can also contribute to avoidance behaviors, especially among younger audiences[5]. Germany shows only moderate growth potential in news subscription markets, indicating wider challenges in maintaining and growing committed news audiences[1].
- The Leibniz Institute for Media Research (Hans-Bredow-Institute) in Hamburg, Germany, collaborated on the "Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025" to establish why so many Germans are avoiding the news, with factors such as news overdose driven by negative vibes, wars and conflicts, and a generation gap between older and younger age groups playing significant roles.
- Despite the increased news avoidance among Germans, AI-generated news remains a source of profound discomfort for around 54% of the population, with only 34% expressing acceptance when AI is used to assist human journalists instead of replacing them outright.
