Younger Generation Better At Separating News From Opinion

Those pesky kids with their smartphones don’t know the days of print newspapers separating the news pages from the opinion section. But they’re not necessarily the ones we have to worry about discerning news statements from opinions, according to a new analysis from the Pew Research Center.

Based on a survey Pew conducted in February and March, Americans ages 18–49 were more likely to accurately categorise factual statements as facts and opinion statements as opinions.

A third of that age range correctly identified all five news items in a test, compared to 20 percent of those over age 50, and 44 percent of the younger grouping correctly identified all opinion items, compared to 26 percent of their elders.

“Beyond digital savviness, the original study found that two other factors have a strong relationship with being able to correctly classify factual and opinion statements: having higher political awareness and more trust in the information from the national news media,” Pew researcher Jeffery Gottfried wrote.

“Despite the fact that younger adults tend to be less politically aware and trusting of the news media than their elders, they still performed better at this task.”

This corroborates the footnote of a recent American Press Institute study which found that only 43 percent of Americans thought it was easy to distinguish opinion from news on digital news sites and social media.

The API researchers found that 52 percent of adults under age 30 said it’s at least somewhat easy to tell them apart on social media, versus 34 percent of adults 60 and older: “The level of ease was about the same for younger adults across all media types.”

The study also noted that the young folk were understandably less familiar with print jargon like “op-ed” than the older adults.

A different recent Pew study found that while 57 percent of American social media users expected the news they encountered there to be “largely inaccurate,” younger social media news consumers were, unsurprisingly, more likely to say social media has “impacted their learning for the better” (48 percent of those age 18 to 29, compared to 28 percent of those age 50 to 64).

Op-eds have been playing a much larger role in the news cycle these days, with Trump’s anonymous underling writing in The New York Times and the president’s error-ridden contribution to USA Today.

Instead of fighting with terms that are quickly becoming arcane, there are a few options beyond cheering the fact that rising generations of news consumers understand the newspaper layout.

Nieman Lab:

You Might Also Read: 

New Tools To Fight Fake News:

 

« USA & China Named As Top Cyber-Attack Sources
Blockchain May Break Tech’s Hold On AI »

Infosecurity Europe
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

Infosecurity Europe, 3-5 June 2025, ExCel London

Infosecurity Europe, 3-5 June 2025, ExCel London

This year, Infosecurity Europe marks 30 years of bringing the global cybersecurity community together to further our joint mission of Building a Safer Cyber World.

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

Agari

Agari

Agari is the Trusted Email Identity Company™, protecting brands and people from devastating phishing and socially-engineered attacks.

Verlingue

Verlingue

Verlingue (formerly ICB Group) is a leading corporate insurance broker providing Insurance, Risk Management and related advice to businesses and private clients.

AFCON Control & Automation

AFCON Control & Automation

AFCON is a leading global provider of software solutions and services for the smart management of Control & Automation systems in the age of Digital Transformation.

Irdeto

Irdeto

Irdeto is the world leader in digital platform security, protecting platforms and applications for media & entertainment, gaming, connected transport and IoT connected industries.

Vuntie

Vuntie

Vuntie blend European craftsmanship, performance and open-source technology to deliver cybersecurity services including penetration testing, incident response, training and consultancy.

Tigera

Tigera

Tigera provides zero-trust network security and continuous compliance for Kubernetes platforms that enables enterprises to meet their security and compliance requirements.

British Security Industry Association - CySPAG

British Security Industry Association - CySPAG

CySPAG is a special interest group within the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) focused on reducing the risk of product related cybercrime.

BlueHalo

BlueHalo

BlueHalo is purpose-built to provide industry capabilities in the domains of Space Superiority and Directed Energy, Missile Defense and C4ISR, and Cyber and Intelligence.

Ostendio

Ostendio

Ostendio is a cybersecurity and information management solutions provider that develops affordable compliance solutions for digital health companies and other regulated entities.

IT-Seal

IT-Seal

IT-Seal GmbH specializes in sustainable security culture and awareness training.

Hubify

Hubify

Hubify is an experienced, service-driven technology company specialising in business connectivity across mobile, data, voice, cloud, & cyber security solutions.

Bittnet Training

Bittnet Training

Bittnet Training is the leader in the IT Training market in Romania. We develop the IT skills of IT professionals as well as those who wish to start a career in IT.

Techtron Business IT Services

Techtron Business IT Services

TECHTRON has been providing business IT services since 2004. Our focus is on SMBs and we are good at it. Our customers trust us, they love our high levels of service, and they love what we stand for.

Inroad Technologies

Inroad Technologies

Inroad Technologies provide IT services that help keep your business computers, servers and networks secure and trouble-free.

Amtivo Ireland

Amtivo Ireland

Amtivo Ireland (formerly Certification Europe and EQA) offers a range of certifications and related services.

Metrics that Matter (MTM)

Metrics that Matter (MTM)

Metrics that Matter redefines how organizations approach cybersecurity by offering unprecedented insight into the value of their assets to criminals and tailored action plans to protect.