# Most Americans don't know what Substack is

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/ai/most-americans-dont-know-what-substack-is/

> Indexed question in AI & Tech.

## Reading

For most Americans, the question of subscribing to news-and-politics Substacks never gets off the ground: 53% say they do not know what Substack is, according to a March 2026 Verasight survey.

Another 28% say they know what Substack is but do not subscribe to any. Just 15% subscribe to at least one Substack that mostly focuses on news and politics, including 7% who subscribe to more than two, and an additional 4% subscribe to Substacks but none that mostly cover news and politics.

## Topline

Do you subscribe to any Substacks that mostly focus on news and politics?

Most Americans don't know what Substack is.

- I do not know what Substack is: 53.5%
- I know what Substack is, but I do not subscribe to any Substacks: 27.6%
- I subscribe to more than two Substacks that mostly focus on news and politics: 7.0%
- I subscribe to two Substacks that mostly focus on news and politics: 4.7%
- I subscribe to Substacks, but not to any that mostly focus on news and politics: 3.6%
- I subscribe to one Substack that mostly focuses on news and politics: 3.6%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2026-03-06 → 2026-03-16
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.4%
- Module: Module 1: Technology, Finance, & Media
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044#q-1-32](https://reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044#q-1-32)

## Citation

Verasight Client Omnibus Survey #2026-044, fielded March 6-16, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.4%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044#q-1-32](https://reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044#q-1-32)