As summarized by the Columbia Journalism Review, the accuracy of the NMA's claims was widely questioned, with "a number of prominent journalists and media-industry observers [scoffing] at both the number and the report itself". The Nieman Journalism Lab criticized the NMA's report as "based on math reasoning that would be embarrassing from a bright middle schooler".
The Columbia Journalism Review highlighted widespread doubts regarding the accuracy of the NMA's claims, with many prominent journalists and media professionals dismissing both the number and the report's content. The Nieman Journalism Lab also criticized the NMA's report for its flawed mathematical reasoning, which they deemed to be insufficient even for a middle school student.