Report · AI & Tech

Eight-in-ten Americans say they spot fake news better than most people

Reading

In a Verasight survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted Sept. 7 to 13, 2023, 83% of Americans said they were better than most people at spotting misleading or fake news. Including 56% who said a little better and 27% who said much better.

About one in six said they were worse than most people (17%), with 13% who said a little worse and 4% who said much worse.

Topline

response scale

Topline scale

83% of Americans say they are better than most people at spotting fake news.

Compared to most people, how good are you at spotting misleading or fake news?

  • A little better than most people 56.1%
  • Much better than most people 27.4%
  • A little worse than most people 12.8%
  • Much worse than most people 3.7%

2023 · base n 2,000 · +/- 2.3%

APSA Omnibus Survey #2023-071

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Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Field dates
2023-09-07 → 2023-09-13
Base (unweighted)
2,000
Margin of error
+/- 2.3%
Module
2023 APSA Omnibus Survey #2023-071

Source

  • 01
    Eight-in-ten Americans say they spot fake news better than most peoplereports.verasight.io/reports/2023-apsa-omnibus-survey-2023-071

Citation

2023 APSA Omnibus Survey #2023-071, fielded September 7-13, 2023, N=2,000 United States adults, +/- 2.3%.

https://reports.verasight.io/reports/2023-apsa-omnibus-survey-2023-071#compared-to-most-people-how-good-are-you-at-spotting-misleading-or-fake-news

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. Each wave's specific field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that wave's report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
Every wave is published as a standalone report at verasight.io/reports with full instrument and methodology.
Transparency
AAPOR transparency standards.

Wave-specific methodology, full weighting variable lists, and verbatim instrument text live in each report at verasight.io/reports.