![A lavender armchair on a windy terrace, loose newspaper pages lifting off the table and a weathervane turning in every direction](https://viacara.com/img/content/misinformation-feature-light.webp) # Misinformation and News Overwhelm Bad news on repeat, and not knowing what to believe, can be exhausting. Why it happens, how to check what you see and where support fits. Bad news on repeat can leave you drained. So can the feeling that you cannot tell what is true any more. In 2025, 41% of UK adults online had seen false or misleading information in the past four weeks. Ofcom found it was the most common potential harm online. ViaCara connects adults with support. If you are under 18, [YoungMinds](https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/worries-about-the-news-and-the-world/) and [Childline](https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/fake-news-and-misinformation/) have advice written for you. Our [under-18s section](https://viacara.com/support/under-18s/) lists services you can contact. Source: [Ofcom: online nation 2025](https://viacara.com/support/life-online/misinformation/#ref-1) ## Why it can wear you down In Ofcom's 2026 report, 56% of social media users had seen false or misleading news in the past year. Some people told Ofcom they had stepped back from the news because it felt overwhelming or draining. Scrolling through bad news for long stretches is sometimes called "doomscrolling". Mind says reading the news again and again during bad world events can harm your wellbeing. These surveys measure how often people meet false information, not what it does to their mental health. We think much of the strain comes from the constant work of sorting true from false. Sources: [Ofcom: media use 2026](https://viacara.com/support/life-online/misinformation/#ref-2), [MHF: doomscrolling](https://viacara.com/support/life-online/misinformation/#ref-3), [Mind: being online](https://viacara.com/support/life-online/misinformation/#ref-4) ## What it can *look* like You may recognise some of these: - You check the news first thing in the morning and last thing at night - You feel on edge after reading, but keep reading anyway - You no longer know which sources to trust, so you trust none of them - You have fallen out with a friend or relative over a story - You shared something that turned out to be false, and felt foolish - You avoid the news completely, then feel guilty for not knowing None of this makes you gullible or weak. Anyone can be caught out. ## How to *check* what you see Full Fact, a UK fact-checking charity, suggests three questions to ask about anything you read online: - **Where is it from?** Trusted sources are the safest place to start. If a claim names no source, try to find one. - **What is missing?** A headline rarely tells you everything. Photos and videos can be edited or made up. - **How does it make you feel?** People who make false stories often try to play on your feelings. For health claims, an NHS checklist called Misinformation UnMASKED can help. It asks who wrote the claim, what evidence it links to and how old it is. It also suggests asking a friend or a librarian to help. You do not have to check everything. You might start with the things you want to share or act on. Sources: [Full Fact: misinformation toolkit](https://viacara.com/support/life-online/misinformation/#ref-5), [NHS: UnMASKED guide](https://viacara.com/support/life-online/misinformation/#ref-6) ![The lavender armchair in calm morning light, the newspapers tied in a bundle by the door and one open book on the table](https://viacara.com/img/content/misinformation-mid-light.webp) You can choose when to look, and what to trust ## Small *changes* that can help The Mental Health Foundation suggests small changes to how you use news and social media apps. You might try some of these: - Turn off instant alerts, so you choose when to look - Set a time limit on your scrolling, and try to keep to it - Hide or block accounts that leave you feeling worse - Make one room a no-phone zone, so there is somewhere it does not follow you Nobody can keep up with everything, and it is fine to take a break. You do not have to stop following the news altogether. If the weight is the events themselves rather than what is true, our page on [world events](https://viacara.com/support/world-events/) covers that side. Sources: [MHF: doomscrolling](https://viacara.com/support/life-online/misinformation/#ref-3), [Mind: upsetting news](https://viacara.com/support/life-online/misinformation/#ref-7) ## What *talking* can help with A professional will not tell you what to believe. They can help with how the news, and the arguments around it, leave you feeling. - The worry that stays with you after you put the phone down - The urge to keep checking, even when it makes you feel worse - Strained relationships with people who see things differently - Trusting your own judgement again, at your own pace If it has left you with [anxiety](https://viacara.com/support/anxiety/) or [sleep problems](https://viacara.com/support/sleep/), those pages say more. If your mood has stayed low and will not lift, read about [depression](https://viacara.com/support/depression/). Thanks for your interest. We're not taking on new clients at the moment. ## Ready to feel *steadier* about what you read? We ask what matters to you, then find professionals who fit. Leave your email and we'll let you know as soon as we're ready for you. This conversation helps us find you the right support. What you share helps us understand what you're looking for and find someone who fits. Your email keeps you updated on what's happening next and isn't shared with anyone we introduce you to. [Privacy policy](https://viacara.com/privacy) [Terms of service](https://viacara.com/terms) ## References 1. Ofcom (2025). *Online Nation 2025*. [Link](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/online-research/online-nation/2025/online-nations-report-2025.pdf) 2. Ofcom (2026). *Adults' Media Use and Attitudes 2026*. [Link](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/media-literacy-research/adults/adults-media-use-and-attitudes-2026/adults-media-use-and-attitudes-2026-report.pdf) 3. Mental Health Foundation (2025). *Doomscrolling: tips for healthier news consumption*. [Link](https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/articles/doomscrolling-tips-healthier-news-consumption) 4. Mind (2023). *How being online can affect your mental health*. [Link](https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/looking-after-your-mental-health-online/about-your-mental-health-online/) 5. Full Fact (2026). *Getting started with the Misinformation Toolkit*. [Link](https://fullfact.org/toolkit/getting-started-with-the-misinformation-toolkit/) 6. South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and NHS England Knowledge and Library Services (2025). *Misinformation UnMASKED: a guide to checking the reliability of health information*. [Link](https://library.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/05/Misinformation-UnMASKED-checklist.pdf) 7. Mind (2026). *How to cope with upsetting events in the news*. [Link](https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/coping-with-upsetting-events-in-the-news/) ## Related ### [Life Online](https://viacara.com/support/life-online/) Social media, the news and hours on your phone can wear down your mood, sleep and self-worth. What being online can do, and where support fits. ### [World Events](https://viacara.com/support/world-events/) War, political upheaval, disasters and news that will not stop. Why world events weigh on you at home, and what can help. ### [Understanding Anxiety](https://viacara.com/support/anxiety/) Learn about anxiety, its symptoms and how therapy can help. Find the right practitioner for anxiety support. ### [Sleep Problems and Insomnia](https://viacara.com/support/sleep/) Insomnia is thought to affect around 1 in 3 people in the UK. Find a professional who works with sleep and with what keeps you awake. ### [Low Mood and Depression](https://viacara.com/support/depression/) Low mood that lasts two weeks or more can be a sign of depression. It is common and treatable. Find a professional who works with low mood. ### [Finding the Right Practitioner](https://viacara.com/guides/finding-a-practitioner/) A practical guide to finding a mental health practitioner who fits your needs, preferences and budget.