A new study released by NewsGuard reveals that 49 percent of Americans say they believed at least one of the top false news claims circulating online in June.

The research, conducted through NewsGuard's newly launched Reality Gap Index in partnership with YouGov, surveyed 1,000 Americans and found that only 7 percent of those surveyed could correctly identify all three false claims as untrue.

The study represents the group's first ongoing measurement of mainstream Americans' susceptibility to online misinformation.

The Context

This research provides the first quantifiable measure of how effectively false information penetrates American public opinion. With 74 percent of respondents expressing uncertainty about at least one claim's veracity, the findings highlight the challenge facing voters where shared factual understanding appears increasingly fragmented.

The study's methodology could offer policymakers, platforms and educators concrete data about misinformation's real-world impact on public perception.

What To Know

The Reality Gap Index tracks Americans' belief in provably false claims with significant online spread, selected based on virality, impact and potential harm.

Beginning with June's study, NewsGuard intends to publish monthly reports tracking these trends, providing insights into how hoaxes and foreign information operations can succeed in misleading the public.

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