Reasoning
Edelman's Trust Barometer has shown a general decline in trust in media and online information in the US in recent years, with significant year-over-year drops. Given the ongoing challenges of misinformation, the increasing sophistication of AI-generated fake content, and potential further political polarization, it's highly probable that trust will continue to erode, exceeding a 20-point decline from a 2025 baseline by 2029. For example, the 2023 Trust Barometer indicated a significant dip in trust for online news and social media, a trend that has persisted.Key uncertainty
The development and widespread adoption of effective AI detection and content authentication technologies by major platforms and governments could significantly mitigate the decline in trust.