With 84 percent, 25- to 45-year-olds doubt the truth of online information most often, while those aged 65 and older doubt it the least (48 percent). However, the doubt has increased the most among this group: in 2021, 36 percent had doubts.
In 2025, men doubt online messages with possibly false information more often than women: 76 versus 68 percent. In addition, people with a higher professional education or university degree doubt this more often (83 percent) than people with primary education or a VMBO diploma (59 percent).
Of the people who doubt information on the internet, 68 percent say they have checked whether this information was true or not. It is mainly men, 12- to 45-year-olds and people with higher professional or university education who check information. Women, people aged 65 and older, and people with primary education or a VMBO diploma do this the least often.
More than 80 percent of people who check whether online information is true say they search online for more information, and more than half say they check the source. About 30 percent discuss the information offline with others or look for more information offline.
People who do not check possibly false online information most often give the reason that they already know the information or source is not reliable (65 percent). About 20 percent say they do not know how to check this and almost 10 percent say it is too difficult.
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