I don’t know what to believe anymore — is this normal?

Many people describe a shift from “I disagree” to “I’m not sure what to trust” — not because they changed their mind, but because judging information can feel harder than it used to be. Survey data can help place that experience in context without assuming a single cause.

Answer

Yes — this experience is common in HCI survey samples. In our Digital Trust 2025 survey (n=505), 55% agreed that not knowing what to trust makes them feel anxious or uneasy.

Within this sample, this suggests that feeling unsure what to believe is not unusual, but a widely reported experience when navigating uncertain information environments.

Percentages reflect respondents selecting 5–7 (agreement) on a 7-point Likert scale unless otherwise stated.

These findings reflect self-reported perceptions within survey samples. They do not measure objective truth levels or establish causation.

How this experience is commonly described

  • I don’t know what to believe anymore.
  • Everything sounds convincing, but I don’t trust it.
  • I feel like I’m constantly second-guessing what I read.
  • I can’t tell what’s real, biased, or manipulated.
  • It feels like you have to verify everything just to keep up.

How this fits into the wider pattern

Across HCI datasets, this emotional uncertainty appears alongside widespread difficulty judging information online. In the same Digital Trust 2025 survey, 87% reported that they often question whether information they encounter online is trustworthy.

This suggests that feeling unsure what to believe is not simply a personal reaction, but part of a broader pattern where increased difficulty interpreting information is commonly accompanied by emotional discomfort.

In this context, uncertainty about what to believe reflects both a more complex information environment and the emotional strain of navigating it.

What tends to accompany this experience?

Within the same survey sample, respondents who frequently questioned whether online information was trustworthy (n=439):

  • 59% also agreed that not knowing what to trust makes them feel anxious or uneasy.

This pattern suggests that difficulty deciding what to believe is often accompanied by emotional discomfort when navigating uncertain information.

Theme: Trust, Reality & Uncertainty
Construct tags: Trust Calibration, Emotional Uncertainty
How do I know what’s real online anymore?
Perceived authenticity erosion and what commonly co-occurs when people report reality uncertainty. Why does everything online feel fake?
Perceived authenticity erosion and behavioural clustering. How can I trust AI if it sounds confident but is wrong?
Trust calibration and confidence–accuracy mismatch. Why do I feel overwhelmed trying to figure out what’s true?
Cognitive overload under uncertainty. Why does trying to verify information feel so exhausting?
Verification fatigue and strain patterns.

Part of a wider topic

This page is part of the Trust, Reality & Uncertainty in the AI Era topic — examining trust in information sources, perceived deception risk, verification behaviour, and uncertainty about what is real online.

Browse all HCI question topics in the Questions Hub .