NEW YORK, NY (April 2026) — A new report from the Institute for Public Relations (IPR) and Leger reveals that while concerns about disinformation have hit record levels, Americans are increasingly looking to companies, brands, and communicators to play a larger role in addressing it.
The 6th annual 2026 Disinformation in Society Report surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults to assess how Americans perceive false or misleading information, who they hold responsible for spreading it, and what actions they believe are necessary to combat it.
The report indicates a significant gap persists between who Americans believe should be responsible for combatting disinformation and how well those groups are doing so. In communications, 76% say public relations and marketing professionals should be responsible, yet only 28% believe they are combatting disinformation at least “somewhat well.”
“This study reinforces that disinformation is a challenge for our industry and society as a whole,” said Tina McCorkindale, Ph.D., APR, President and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations. “Organizations, communicators, brands, and leaders must help rebuild trust and improve the overall information and media environment.”
Key Findings:
- Americans view disinformation as a major problem. More than 7-in-10 Americans (71%) say disinformation is a major problem, placing it alongside the economy and homelessness as one of the country’s most pressing issues. This is the highest percentage to date.
- Companies and brands are expected to step up. More than three-quarters of Americans (76%) said companies and brands should take a stronger role in combatting disinformation, a slight increase compared to 2025.
- Social media platforms receive the most blame. Platforms such as Facebook (75%), TikTok (68%), and X (65%) are among the top sources of disinformation, alongside government entities and political actors.
- A persistent trust gap undermines progress. While institutions such as government, media, and corporations are viewed as highly responsible for addressing disinformation, most are rated poorly for how effectively they do so. • Local news stands out, but faces decline. Local news remains one of the few sources trusted by both Democrats and Republicans, even as local journalism continues to decline nationwide, contributing to the growth of news deserts.
- Fewer Americans blame AI for disinformation. Concern that artificial intelligence will increase disinformation declined by 11 percentage points (from 56% in 2025 to 45% in 2026), suggesting a shift in public perception of emerging technologies. Trust in generative artificial intelligence increased from 33% in 2025 to 40% in 2026.
- Disinformation takes an emotional toll. Half of Americans (50%) said encountering disinformation causes anxiety or stress, and more than 40% report avoiding news altogether because of it, with similar levels to last year.
- Disinformation is seen as fueling division and undermining democracy. More than three-quarters (76%) said disinformation increases political polarization, and nearly two-thirds (65%) believe it undermines the election process.
Implications for Public Relations
The findings highlight a growing opportunity for public relations professionals and companies as this report underscores the need for organizations to take a more active role in addressing disinformation.
“As nearly half of Americans see disinformation daily, but are trusting institutions less, communicators have an opportunity to rise to the challenge,” said Dave Scholz, Chief Strategy Officer of Leger. “Our industry can help close the gap between expectations and performance.”
About the Study
Leger conducted the online survey from Feb. 25 to March 13, 2026, with a representative sample of 2,007 Americans aged 18 and older. This is the sixth longitudinal study on disinformation conducted by IPR and Leger.
About the Institute for Public Relations:
The Institute for Public Relations is an independent, nonprofit research foundation dedicated to fostering greater use of research and research-based knowledge in corporate communication and the public relations practice. IPR is dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations.® IPR provides timely insights and applied intelligence that professionals can put to immediate use. All research, including a weekly research letter, is available for free at instituteforpr.org.
About Leger:
Leger is the largest Canadian-owned market research and analytics company, with more than 600 employees in eight Canadian and US offices. Leger has been working with prestigious clients since 1986. For more information: leger360.com Media Contact: Brittany Higginbotham Communications & Outreach Manager Institute for Public Relations brittany@instituteforpr.org (352) 392-0280