By: Jason Alderman, Managing Director, SmartNews

The 24/7 news cycle is giving Americans serious news fatigue. International headlines, like the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, have major implications for Americans. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: these stories are struggling to gain traction. New data from SmartNews shows 71% of Americans pay little to no attention to foreign news, but when they do, social media is the primary way they access international stories.

While the data highlights some gloomy aspects ? including 40% of respondents citing a total lack of interest in foreign news ? there are some bright spots too. There’s a stereotype that younger age groups mostly scroll on their phones mindlessly, yet they have the strongest affinity for foreign news. When compared to Gen X and Boomers, Gen Z and Millennials are dedicating more time to consuming this information. Amidst all of the challenging stories coming from all corners of the world, younger generations are taking global affairs and creating digestible, viral moments on social platforms, such as sharing news updates on the Papal conclave. These cultural social moments make foreign news feel relevant and timely.

Younger generations are making sense of overwhelming news cycles by disseminating stories through meme culture and generating social media trends. These generational shifts could potentially change the overall disinterest Americans have for foreign news and what that means for publishers. The takeaway is clear: for foreign news to resonate with American audiences, it must be presented in creative, sometimes foreign ways to reach readers where they are.?

Rewriting The Foreign News Playbook

Young audiences are turning stories into memes and reaction commentary. This behavior reflects a shift in how meaning is made from foreign news stories. For Gen Z and Millennials, interest derives from relatability. They trust peers and content creators who can make complicated geopolitical information feel digestible, emotionally resonant and even humorous.

Take the recent selection of a new Pope as an example: while many Americans may have skipped over traditional Vatican coverage, at least until the news was that it was the first U.S. pope, an account called Pope Crave went viral. The page, run by a Gen Zer, reacted to news updates with memes about smoke signals and fashion commentary on cardinals' robes, as well as sharing important updates from print and TV news. Not every story is meme-able, and not all issues should be distilled down to a punchline, but turning foreign headlines into humor, irony, or shared cultural references helps create interest and connection with online users to stories that may otherwise feel unapproachable.

The News Dispatch is Now a Post

The traditional foreign desk hasn’t disappeared, but journalists and stories are moving into new spaces. You can now find international reporting in snippets ? and full context ? on TikTok, Instagram and X, as well as creator commentary, alongside traditional dispatches. The distribution looks different, but the need for credible and accessible reporting remains just as strong.?

When a journalist posts a dispatch from Kyiv and sees more traction on social media than on the homepage, that shift tells you where the audience lives. Publishers can respond by equipping social teams to elevate foreign reporting in ways that match platform behaviors. Global stories don’t need to be funny or viral, but the stakes need to be clear and concise, and every newsroom needs to understand where and how people engage with world events. When editors build social awareness into their daily planning, they create more paths that lead audiences back to their core reporting. They don’t just chase trends. They build habits.

Bringing the World to Your Feed, Thoughtfully

Foreign news matters. But the way people find and engage with those stories has changed. Newsrooms that treat social platforms as part of their core reporting can reach new audiences and build lasting connections.

That doesn’t mean giving up traditional foreign desks. In fact, just the opposite. They need to add creators, curators, and correspondents who know how to translate serious reporting into formats that match modern media consumption habits. The most effective teams stay nimble and find smart ways to turn social moments into newsroom traffic and long-term interest.

Elections, conflicts, and climate events shape lives around the world. These stories demand attention. Publishers have the responsibility to meet that demand with strong reporting. They also have the opportunity to build trust and interest by delivering global news in formats that fit the way people consume information today. When they do, they bring new readers back to what matters most: original, thoughtful journalism that helps people understand the world around them.