Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, the impact of that day continues to shape the information environment in the United States and beyond. The events of 9/11 and the resulting "war on terror" not only altered global politics but also significantly weakened public trust in mainstream news media. This erosion of trust laid the foundation for today's highly polarized and fragmented media landscape, where misinformation and alternative narratives thrive. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, American journalists faced a difficult choice: uphold their professional standards of objectivity or align with the national mood of unity and patriotism. Many newsrooms chose the latter, with reporters wearing patriotic symbols and broadcasting with slogans like "America Under Attack." Veteran news anchor Dan Rather reflected this sentiment during an interview with David Letterman, saying, "George Bush is the president, he makes the decisions … wherever he wants me to line up, just tell me where." This alignment with the government's narrative helped frame the post-9/11 era as a "war on terror," a term used to justify a long-term military response. This shift in media coverage is known as "re-institutionalisation" among scholars — a process where political leaders and institutions dominate the narrative following a crisis, shaping media content accordingly. This pattern was not limited to the U.S., as news outlets in the UK, Spain, and Germany also mirrored similar reporting styles. One common theme was the association of Islam with terrorism, with media coverage of attacks by Muslim perpetrators receiving significantly more attention than those by right-wing extremists, despite the latter being more frequent. Over time, public engagement with traditional news sources has declined, especially among younger generations. In the years following 9/11, there was a surge in news consumption, but this eventually gave way to fatigue. The rise of digital platforms and social media has changed how people access and engage with news, often leading to avoidance or disengagement from traditional media. This shift has been accompanied by a significant drop in trust in news institutions across Western democracies. For many, especially ethnic minorities, the coverage of 9/11 and the subsequent Iraq War fueled perceptions of bias, further eroding confidence in the media. In the wake of 9/11, as mainstream media aligned with official narratives, alternative voices and conspiracy theories emerged. These grassroots accounts, ranging from claims that the attacks were staged to fears of a "one-world government," provided a counterpoint to official explanations. While the reach of these theories is debated, they played a role in shaping public discourse and deepening skepticism toward the media. Today, the legacy of 9/11 is not just in historical memory but also in how younger generations engage with political issues through online subcultures, dark humor, and memes. These forms of expression, while sometimes used as coping mechanisms, can also contribute to the spread of misinformation and further erode trust in mainstream institutions. The information landscape shaped by 9/11 continues to influence how people perceive truth, authority, and the media today.