Denverites fear misinformation ahead of election, survey shows
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Denverites are wary of fake news and misinformation this election season, according to survey data published Wednesday from SmartNews, a free news aggregation app.
Why it matters: Their fears come at a time when AI is making it easier to spread election lies and as many Americans, including educated elites, find themselves in a gullibility crisis.
- The concerns also underscore the need for reliable, trustworthy information from news outlets, political candidates, campaigns and social media.
By the numbers: 82% of Denver residents surveyed worry about attempts to dupe voters in the heat of this historic election, SmartNews figures show. 46% report being "extremely" concerned.
- Both figures fall below the national averages of 85% and 58%, respectively.
The intrigue: Denverites' lower anxiety levels may stem from Coloradans' historically strong relationship with local news outlets, according to Colorado Media Project's 2022 statewide study.
Yes, but: That trust shows signs of erosion. The percentage of Coloradans expressing little to no confidence in local news doubled from 16% to 32% between 2018 and 2022, CMP found.
Zoom in: Denverites spend an average of one hour and 48 minutes daily consuming news, 14 minutes less than the national average, per SmartNews data.
- 67 of those minutes are spent reading traditional media, while 41 minutes are on social media.
- 55% of Denverites trust traditional media, while only 16% trust social media.
What they did: SmartNews gathered responses online through SurveyMonkey between Sept. 25 and Oct. 2, polling:
- 1,000 adults nationally (±3% margin of error).
- 400 respondents in each of 10 metro areas, including Denver (±5% margin of error).