People Across the Globe Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy

A phone displays election result predictions during the second round of the 2024 French legislative elections on July 7, 2024. (Pat Batard/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images) About this research This Pew Research Center report looks at views of how social media has impacted democracy in 37 countries, as well as social media use by platform in each place. Why did we do this? Pew Research Center does research to help the public, media and decision-makers understand important topics. We study how people around the world feel about their democracies and the impact of social media and other emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). Learn more about Pew Research Center and our international surveys. How did we do this? We surveyed 42,151 people across 36 countries: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Interviews were conducted from Feb. 8 to May 13, 2026. We designed the surveys so we could talk about the views of the adult population in each country. For this report, data from the United States comes from two surveys. We surveyed 3,507 U.S. adults from March 23 to 29, 2026. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel. Additionally, we surveyed 5,511 U.S. adults from Jan. 30 to June 18, 2026 as part of the National Public Opinion Reference Survey (NPORS). These surveys represent the views of the full U.S. adult population. Here are the survey questions used for this report, along with responses, and the survey methodology. As social media platforms have become an important part of the information environment around the world, the view that social media is harming democracy has become more common. Shares who see social media as a bad thing for democracy have grown over the last few years % who say social media has been more of a __ for democracy in their country * This question was first asked in Indonesia in 2023.Note: Those who did not answer are not shown. Includes surveyed countries with the 12 largest statistically significant changes in the share who say ‘Bad thing’ since last asked. Over time, we have changed how we conduct surveys (by phone or face-to-face) in Hungary and Poland. Refer to topline for more information. Source: Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey.“Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy” PEW RESEARCH CENTER Shares who see social media as a bad thing for democracy have grown over the last few years % who say social media has been more of a __ for democracy in their country CountryDateGood thingBad thingGermany20263761Germany20225741Japan20264843Japan20225723Hungary20264942Hungary20226522Poland20265535Poland20226715Indonesia20265543Indonesia20236424Netherlands20262770Netherlands20224454Sweden20264947Sweden20226632France20263165France20224351Spain20264947Spain20226135U.K.20264156U.K.20225048Canada20264055Canada20224947Greece20265343Greece20226235 * This question was first asked in Indonesia in 2023.Note: Those who did not answer are not shown. Includes surveyed countries with the 12 largest statistically significant changes in the share who say ‘Bad thing’ since last asked. Over time, we have changed how we conduct surveys (by phone or face-to-face) in Hungary and Poland. Refer to topline for more information. Source: Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey.“Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy” PEW RESEARCH CENTER A new 37-nation Pew Research Center survey finds that in most countries where trend data is available, the share of the public who believes social media is bad for democracy has increased significantly from 2022 or 2023 to now. Views about social media’s impact are particularly negative in the United States, where 64% of adults say it is bad for democracy. However, while assessments have become more negative in many countries, American attitudes are unchanged since 2022. In some ways, other nations are catching up with the U.S. when it comes to seeing social media’s downsides. (For more, read “Americans Are Negative About Social Media’s Impact on Democracy – and the Rest of the World Is Catching Up.”) In general, people in wealthier nations such as the U.S. are more likely to believe social media is harming democracy. The seven nations where half or more say social media has been bad for democracy are also among the wealthiest surveyed: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the U.S. However, Israel and Singapore are exceptions – relatively few in these two high-income countries believe social media is bad for democracy. People in wealthier countries are more likely to say social media harms democracy % who say social media has been more of a bad thing for democracy in their country Note: 2025 GDP per capita data is from the World Bank (accessed Aug. 26, 2026) and expressed in current USD. The West Bank and East Jerusalem are not shown because corresponding World Bank Data includes Gaza, where we were unable to survey. Source: Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey.“Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy” PEW RESEARCH CENTER People in wealthier countries are more likely to say social media harms democracy % who say social media has been more of a bad thing for democracy in their country Hidden GDP per capitaCountryMore of a bad thing for democracy%GDP per capitaGrouping90027U.S.6464$90,026.52 North America55698Canada5555$55,697.66 North America48986France6565$48,985.73 Europe60496Germany6161$60,496.44 Europe26948Greece4343$26,948.01 Europe25907Hungary4242$25,907.47 Europe43309Italy4444$43,308.64 Europe73684Netherlands7070$73,683.92 Europe28420Poland3535$28,419.58 Europe38627Spain4747$38,627.25 Europe63133Sweden4747$63,133.21 Europe57602U.K.5656$57,601.96 Europe65130Australia5252$65,129.72 Asia-Pacific2597Bangladesh2828$2,597.34 Asia-Pacific2702India2323$2,702.48 Asia-Pacific5060Indonesia4343$5,059.63 Asia-Pacific35951Japan4343$35,951.04 Asia-Pacific13125Malaysia2727$13,124.56 Asia-Pacific1596Pakistan3333$1,595.91 Asia-Pacific4171Philippines2323$4,170.72 Asia-Pacific98814Singapore2222$98,813.98 Asia-Pacific36227South Korea3838$36,226.97 Asia-Pacific5002Sri Lanka3535$5,002.08 Asia-Pacific8057Thailand2121$8,056.56 Asia-Pacific60337Israel2222$60,336.85 Middle East18599Turkey3535$18,599.44 Middle East3257Ghana2121$3,257.16 Sub-Saharan Africa2363Kenya2424$2,362.86 Sub-Saharan Africa1224Nigeria1111$1,224.25 Sub-Saharan Africa6598South Africa2828$6,597.71 Sub-Saharan Africa14898Argentina3535$14,898.09 Latin America10713Brazil2929$10,713.29 Latin America17995Chile4343$17,994.59 Latin America8562Colombia3333$8,561.62 Latin America13889Mexico2626$13,889.23 Latin America9684Peru3434$9,684.41 Latin America Note: 2025 GDP per capita data is from the World Bank (accessed Aug. 26, 2026) and expressed in current USD. The West Bank and East Jerusalem are not shown because corresponding World Bank Data includes Gaza, where we were unable to survey. Source: Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey.“Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy” PEW RESEARCH CENTER In nations with lower gross domestic products per capita, people tend to be less negative about social media. For example, in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, the Philippines and Thailand, roughly three-in-four or more say it has been good for democracy. In most countries polled, this positive view is predominant. Across the 37 nations surveyed, a median of 55% think social media has had a positive impact on democracy, while a median of 35% say it has had a negative one. Young adults in most nations are especially likely to believe social media has a positive effect on democracy. One of the largest age gaps is found in the U.K., where 60% of adults ages 18 to 34 say social media’s influence on democracy has been good, compared with just 31% of those ages 50 and older. In the U.S., 44% of adults younger than 35 hold this view, compared with 28% of people 50 and older. Many around the world say social media is good for democracy overall Median % who say social media has been more of a __ for democracy in their country … but majorities see positive and negative effects on society Median % who say access to the internet and social media has made people … Note: Percentages are medians based on 37 countries. Those who did not answer are not shown. Source: Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey.“Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy” PEW RESEARCH CENTER Many around the world say social media is good for democracy overall Median % who say social media has been more of a __ for democracy in their country Bad thingGood thing3555 Median % who say access to the internet and social media has made people …LessMoreNot had much impactInformed about current events117710Able to have a meaningful voice in politics146020Easy to manipulate with false information and rumors8798Divided in their political opinions106816 Note: Percentages are medians based on 37 countries. Those who did not answer are not shown. Source: Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey.“Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy” PEW RESEARCH CENTER Why do so many people think online platforms have been good for democracy? Part of the answer may be that these platforms give people a voice at time when many feel voiceless. A median of 60% in the 37 countries surveyed say access to the internet and social media has increased people’s ability to have a meaningful voice in politics.