Executive Summary
Between opinion and manipulation: how Germany keeps informed
Media literacy encompasses the ability to critically assess media and media content and to use them responsibly. This representative IU study shows how digital media, fake news and deepfakes are changing the way we handle information.
In 2025, people in Germany primarily use news programmes on television, online news portals and the radio to stay informed about current social and political events. Social media, such as Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube, are also important and frequently used sources of information for many people. More than half of the respondents always or regularly fact-check the latest news.
Talking of trust: the majority of respondents trust traditional media (TV, radio, newspapers) as a source. Personal networks, such as friends or family, are considered nearly as credible. In contrast, less than a third of people in Germany trust social media as a source. More on this in Focus: Social Media.
However, it’s not just social media that has a trust problem: 70.6% of respondents tend to agree or completely agree that their trust in the media has declined in recent years. This is partly due to the increased spread of fake news and deepfakes. “Although disinformation spreads primarily via social media, comments and messenger services, fake news and deepfakes are fuelling distrust in the media as a whole. This is because many people are unsettled or overwhelmed by the multitude of platforms, information and opinions,” says Prof. Dr Nele Hansen, Professor of Media Management at IU International University of Applied Sciences, analysing the findings.
Disinformation in the form of fake news and deepfakes poses even further dangers to society: 89.9% consider fake news to be a serious threat to our democracy and freedom. According to the respondents, social network platforms and politicians in particular have a responsibility to combat these dangers, e.g. by labelling potential fake news and deepfakes or through a legal obligation to label AI-generated content.
Whether people merely absorb information or confidently evaluate it depends largely upon their media literacy and critical thinking skills.”
Prof. Dr Nele Hansen
Professor of Media Management at IU International University of Applied Sciences
Television news programmes are the most frequently used source of news.
68.0 %
of people in Germany mainly use television news programmes to keep up to date with current social and political events.
Almost half always or frequently look for information on social media.
43.2 %
use social media, such as Instagram, TikTok, X or YouTube, always or frequently to search for information. For respondents aged 30 and under (Generation Z), this figure was as high as 56.9%.
Social media is the main source of information for Generation Z.
70.6 %
of respondents aged 30 and under obtain information primarily via social media. For them, television news programmes rank second.
However: less than half of the respondents trust social media as a source.
30.9 %
of respondents say they completely trust or tend to trust social media as a source – the figure is 40.7% for Generation Z.
Trust in the media is declining – also due to fake news and deepfakes.
71.8 %
say that the emergence of fake news has reduced their trust in the media in general (completely agree or tend to agree).
Fake news threatens democracy and divides society.
89.9 %
completely agree or tend to agree that fake news is a serious threat to our democracy and freedom and is driving social division.
Tackling fake news: the responsibility lies primarily with social network platforms and politicians.
65.1 %
of respondents believe that social media providers are primarily responsible for combating fake news and deepfakes. 63.1% also believe that politicians are responsible.
Nachrichtensendungen im Fernsehen sind die am häufigsten genutzte Quelle für News.
68,0 %
der Menschen in Deutschland nutzen hauptsächlich Nachrichtensendungen im Fernsehen, um sich über das aktuelle gesellschaftliche und politische Geschehen zu informieren.
Fast die Hälfte suchen Informationen immer oder häufig auf sozialen Medien.
43,2 %
nutzen soziale Medien wie Instagram, TikTok, X oder YouTube immer oder häufig zur Informationssuche. Befragte bis 30 Jahre (Generation Z) sogar zu 56,9 Prozent.
Die Generation Z informiert sich hauptsächlich über Social Media.
70,6 %
der Befragten bis 30 Jahre informieren sich vor allem über soziale Medien. Bei ihnen stehen Nachrichtensendungen im Fernsehen auf Platz 2.
Aber: Weniger als die Hälfte der Befragten vertraut sozialen Medien als Quelle.
30,9 %
der Befragten geben an, sozialen Medien als Quelle generell voll und ganz bzw. eher zu vertrauen. In der Generation Z sagen das 40,7 Prozent.
Vertrauen in die Medien sinkt – auch aufgrund von Fake News und Deepfakes.
71,8 %
sagen: Durch das Aufkommen von Fake News ist mein Vertrauen in die Medien allgemein gesunken (stimme voll und ganz zu bzw. stimme eher zu)
Fake News bedrohen die Demokratie und spalten die Gesellschaft.
89,9 %
stimmen voll und ganz bzw. eher zu, dass Fake News eine ernsthafte Bedrohung für unsere Demokratie und Freiheit sind und die gesellschaftliche Spaltung vorantreiben.
Kampf gegen Fakes: Die Verantwortung liegt vor allem bei sozialen Plattformen und Politik.
65,1 %
der Befragten sind der Meinung, dass die Betreiber:innen sozialer Plattformen hauptsächlich verantwortlich sind für die Bekämpfung von Fake News und Deepfakes. 63,1 Prozent sehen zudem die Politik in der Verantwortung.
There could be marginal deviations in the results due to rounding off.
Study contents
Media literacy: discover all the facts and figures now
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