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Whom do you trust? For many people, that circle keeps getting smaller. 

Just over a third of Americans now say people are generally trustworthy, a downward shift over the past two decades, according to Pew Research Center. ​Meanwhile, Gallup polls show t​​​rust in institutions like schools, courts and the presidency is at record lows​.

​​This trend also has seeped into an institution we know well:​​ the media​.​​​ SmartNews, an app that curates news from credible outlets, found that 65% of Gen Z readers regularly question the accuracy of news. That’s than any other age group, pointing to growing generational skepticism.

And a new study from the News Literacy Project found that four out of five teens believe journalists fail to produce credible information than other content creators. Nearly seven in 10 believe journalists add bias intentionally. And 45% believe they do harm than good to democracy.

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The results are both a warning and a call to action: Today’s young people are deeply skeptical, but they also crave trustworthy information.

Some skepticism is good; it helps readers think critically and avoid misinformation. But unchecked, it can curdle into cynicism, isolating them from shared facts and civic dialogue. When everything is met with disbelief, they risk tuning out completely.

That is where news literacy comes in. It is not just a set of skills; it is the foundation for restoring trust in democracy. To build a future filled with healthy skepticism, instead of divisive cynicism ​toward the media​, young people need to learn how to navigate today’s complicated online spaces.

Why is this so urgent? Because misinformation thrives where trust breaks down. Conspiracy theories and viral falsehoods are just a swipe away.

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According to a study by the News Literacy Project, many teens believe the conspiracy theories they encounter online. What is worse is that SmartNews found that only 13% of Gen Z report fact-checking what they read, making them the least likely generation to verify information.

It’s understandable how we got here. Clickbait and daily headlines can make the world seem like a scary place. Rumors and false information fill social feeds. ​Deciphering ​​what’s real and ​fake​ is a challenge​, and artificial intelligence has only made it harder.

This doesn’t mean Gen Z doesn’t care about the truth. Quite the opposite — they care deeply but feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of noise. As digital natives, they’re expected to instinctively know what’s credible and what’s not. But instincts aren’t enough, and news literacy can bring them closer to a shared understanding.

The good news? Schools across the country are stepping up. In New York’s North Salem Central School Districtlibrarian Cynthia Sandler led students in creating Instagram reels exploring how to separate news from paid ads, spot AI-generated images and fact-check claims using credible sources.

In Californiaa teacher at Woodland Hills Academy offers a current events elective helping students build media literacy skills, while Illinois teachers are integrating news literacy across subjects, from examining hip-hop music history to evaluating scientific sources.

The impact is measurable: Teens who report having media literacy instruction are likely to trust news media compared to their peers who didn’t receive these lessons.

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These examples point to a broader movement. At least 18 states have now passed laws requiring or promoting media literacy education, with Connecticut, Illinois and New Jersey specifically mandating news literacy instruction.

So how can schools join this effort? It starts with five simple practices educators can apply today to help students identify trustworthy sources:

• Do a quick search: Conducting a simple search for information about a news source will show what others have said about its reporting practices and dedication to accuracy.

• Look for standards: While​​ not perfect, reputable news organizations aspire to ethical standards, including fairness, accuracy and independence.

• Check for transparency: Quality news sources should be transparent about their reporting practices, ownership and funding.

• Examine how errors are handled: Credible news sources care about being accurate, so they correct their mistakes and acknowledge them to their audience.

• Assess news coverage: Read multiple articles to evaluate whether they’re applying standards that lend credibility to their coverage.

In today’s information ecosystem, skepticism is essential — but cynicism is corrosive. When young people are equipped with both the tools and the trusted platforms to think critically, they’re better able to shape their world with facts, not fear.

And that’s a future worth building.

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