Antecedents and consequences of fake news exposure: a two-panel study on how news use and different indicators of fake news exposure affect media trust.

This article investigates the long-term effects of fake news exposure on trust in mainstream media in the United States, using two panel survey studies from 2019 and 2020. It distinguishes between two measures of fake news exposure: perceived fake news exposure (self-reported frequency) and exposure to actual popular fake news stories (recognition of specific false claims). Findings indicate that both social media and traditional news consumption increase exposure to actual fake news stories, but only social media use is linked to higher perceived fake news exposure. Importantly, exposure to fake news—regardless of measurement method—is associated with decreased trust in mainstream media over time, and this effect is consistent across political affiliation, political knowledge, and interest. The study highlights that while social media is often blamed for fake news, traditional media also inadvertently contributes to fake news exposure, which has implications for democratic information environments.