Europeans Increasingly Exposed to Disinformation, Survey Finds

Disinformation and fake news have become defining features in today’s media landscape, with their spread accelerating through social media platforms. According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, perceived exposure to such misleading content is rising significantly across Europe, painting a concerning picture of the information environment.

In 2025, more than a third of EU respondents (36%) reported being “often” or “very often” exposed to disinformation and fake news in the previous week, up from 28 percent in 2022. The confidence in recognizing false information remains worryingly low, with only 12 percent of Europeans feeling fully capable of identifying disinformation when they encounter it.

The survey reveals stark regional differences in perceived exposure. Hungary tops the list with 57 percent of respondents reporting frequent exposure to disinformation, followed closely by Romania (55%) and Spain (52%). Several other countries, including Bulgaria (48%), Luxembourg (45%), and Malta (45%), also reported high levels.

In contrast, Finland and Germany reported the lowest perceived exposure at 26 percent each, with Czechia (29%), Sweden (30%), Lithuania (30%), and France (30%) also showing relatively low figures.

A notable pattern emerges with Eastern and Southern European nations generally reporting higher exposure rates than their Northern and Western counterparts. However, this trend isn’t universal—Luxembourg and Ireland report surprisingly high exposure levels, while Czechia, Italy, and Portugal show lower rates than might be expected based on their regional positions.

When considering those who reported being “sometimes” exposed (31% EU average), the overall perceived exposure rises to approximately two-thirds (66%) of EU citizens—an alarmingly high proportion. Only 7 percent of respondents claimed they were “never” exposed to disinformation, while 16 percent said they were “rarely” exposed.

The upward trend is particularly concerning. Compared to 2022, the share of respondents reporting frequent exposure to disinformation rose in 22 of the 26 EU countries surveyed. Denmark and the Netherlands saw the most dramatic increases, both jumping 19 percentage points. Luxembourg (18 points), Malta (17 points), Sweden (14 points), and Spain (13 points) also recorded substantial increases.

This surge coincides with significant changes in the social media landscape, including Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) in late 2022, though the survey doesn’t explicitly link these events.

Despite high exposure levels, 62 percent of EU respondents claim some confidence in recognizing disinformation—12 percent feel “very confident” while 49 percent are “somewhat confident.” However, this represents a two-percentage-point decline from 2022, suggesting a slight erosion in public confidence. The confidence levels vary widely by country, from 49 percent in Poland to 84 percent in Malta.

Interestingly, researchers found no strong correlation between perceived exposure to disinformation and confidence in recognizing it. This discrepancy highlights the complex nature of media literacy across Europe.

Konrad Bleyer-Simon, research fellow at the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom, explained to Euronews Next that perceptions might not align with actual abilities or the real extent of the problem. “The quality and extent of media literacy and fact-checking activities in the country may play a role here, but also certain psychological factors,” he noted.

Bleyer-Simon pointed to several factors that may increase vulnerability to disinformation, including societal polarization, economic inequality, underperforming education systems, low institutional trust, and politicians employing confrontational or populist communication strategies.

He emphasized that countries with strong, independent public service broadcasters, effective self-regulation of private media, high trust in news sources, and populations that prefer traditional news media over social media tend to demonstrate greater resilience against disinformation.

As digital platforms continue to evolve and information sources multiply, these findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced media literacy programs and stronger institutional frameworks to combat the growing challenge of disinformation across Europe.