No Change in Trust in Facebook and Twitter Despite Government Investigations into Fake News

Washington, DC - In the sixth wave of the Ipsos poll on trust in news sources, broadcast news again tops the list of top news source. Among various media outlets, print newspapers are the most trusted (60%), closely followed by broadcast TV news (59%) and newspapers’ websites (55%). Despite recent comments from both companies about fake news, trust in Facebook and Twitter hasn’t seen significant change since this poll began in January 2017. Trust in Facebook has fallen only 3 percentage points in the last nine months, now at 41% from 44% in January. Similarly, trust in Twitter has fallen only 1 point from 44% in January to 43% in the most recent September wave. However, trust in social media generally has seen a 5-percentage point bump since January, now at 20% up from 15% in January.

About the Study

These are findings from Wave 6 of an Ipsos poll conducted September 27-28, 2017. For the survey, a sample of roughly 1,009 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The sample includes 341 Democrats, 359 Republicans, and 215 Independents. Wave 1 of this poll was conducted January 12-13, 2017 and Wave 2 of this poll was conducted February 23-24, 2017, Wave 3 of this poll was conducted May 4-5, 2017, Wave 4 of the poll was conducted June 15-16,2017 and Wave 5 of the poll was conducted August 10-11, 2017.

Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5  percentage points for all respondents. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=1,009, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=5).

The poll also has a credibility interval of plus or minus 6.1 percentage points for Democrats, plus or minus 5.9 percentage points for Republicans, and plus or minus 7.6 percentage points for Independents. Wave 1 of this poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Wave 2 of this poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Wave 3 of this poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Wave 4 of this poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5  percentage points. Wave 5 of this poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
For more information about conducting research intended for public release or Ipsos’ online polling methodology, please visit our Public Opinion Polling and Communication page where you can  download our brochure, see our public release protocol, or contact us.

For more information on this news release please contact:

Chris Jackson
Vice President
Ipsos Public Affairs
202.420.2011
[email protected]

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry.

With offices in 88 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media, customer loyalty, marketing, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of €1,669.5 ($2,218.4 million) in 2014.