This study tests how perceptions of misinformation and disinformation in one’s general news media environment relate to media trust and media consumption patterns, relying on survey data from 10 European countries. The results show that perceptions of misinformation and disinformation are both related to reduced trust in the news media. Furthermore, they go hand in hand with reduced consumption of traditional TV news, but with no changes in newspaper and (mainstream) online news use. Finally, those with stronger perceptions of misinformation and disinformation are more likely to consume news on social media and alternative, non-mainstream outlets. This pattern is stronger for those with higher perceptions of disinformation. These findings indicate that news users who distrust the veracity and honesty of the news media may turn to alternative outlets that reflect anti-establishment worldviews.

这项研究依赖于来自 10 个欧洲国家的调查数据，测试了一个人在一般新闻媒体环境中对错误信息和虚假信息的看法与媒体信任和媒体消费模式之间的关系。结果表明，对错误信息和虚假信息的看法都与对新闻媒体的信任度降低有关。此外，它们与传统电视新闻消费的减少齐头并进，但报纸和（主流）在线新闻的使用没有变化。最后，那些对错误信息和虚假信息有更强认识的人更有可能在社交媒体和替代的非主流媒体上消费新闻。对于那些对虚假信息有更高认识的人来说，这种模式更强。