Pew Survey: World Says Social Media Harms Democracy

A growing number of people around the world believe that social media is harming their democracies, according to a major new social media democracy survey by the Pew Research Center. The 37-nation study finds that while a majority still see online platforms as a positive force, distrust has climbed sharply across most countries where comparable data exists.

FAKTA

• What: Pew Research Center’s Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey on views of social media and democracy.
• Who was polled: More than 45,000 adults in 37 countries, surveyed from February 8 to May 13, 2026.
• Global median: 55% say social media has been more of a good thing for democracy; 35% say it has been more of a bad thing.
• Trend: In 16 of the 26 countries with comparable 2022 or 2023 data, the share calling social media bad for democracy has grown.
• Most negative nation: The Netherlands, where 70% now say social media harms democracy, up from 54% in 2022.
• The U.S.: 64% of Americans say social media has been bad for democracy, unchanged since 2022.

How the social media democracy survey was conducted

Pew researchers interviewed 42,151 adults across 36 countries between February 8 and May 13, 2026, designing the samples so that each country’s results represent its adult population. The U.S. results draw on two surveys: 3,507 adults polled from March 23 to 29, 2026, and an additional 5,511 adults surveyed from January 30 to June 18, 2026. That brings the total number of respondents across the project to more than 45,000.

The world is catching up with America’s grim view

In 2022, when Pew last asked the same question in 19 mostly high-income countries, the United States stood alone: 64% of Americans said social media had been bad for democracy, a full ten percentage points higher than the Netherlands, the next most negative country. In 2026, Americans’ views have held steady at 64% — but much of the world has caught up with that skepticism.

The Netherlands has now overtaken the United States as the most negative country polled, with 70% of Dutch adults saying social media harms democracy, up from 54% four years ago. French and German views now closely mirror those in the United States, and negative evaluations have also risen notably in the United Kingdom and Canada.

Which countries changed the most

Among the 12 countries with the largest statistically significant changes, every single one recorded an increase in negative views. The sharpest shifts came in Central Europe: Hungary moved from 22% to 42% and Poland from 15% to 35%, each a 20-point jump. Germany climbed from 37% to 61%, and France rose from 43% to 65%. Outside Europe, Japan jumped from 23% to 43%, Sweden from 32% to 47%, and Indonesia — measured against 2023 data — from 24% to 43%.

Wealthier nations are more skeptical

The survey reveals a clear income divide. People in high-income nations tend to be more negative about social media’s influence than those in middle-income countries: the median share calling it bad for democracy is 46% in high-income countries versus 28% in middle-income ones. Seven wealthier countries now hold majority-negative assessments: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

At the other end of the scale, India remained relatively positive: 66% of Indians view social media’s role in democracy favorably, with only 23% rating it as bad. Respondents in lower-income economies such as Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria were also far less inclined to see social media as harmful to democracy.

Manipulation and division top the concerns

When asked about specific effects, Americans stood out for their bleak assessment. They are among the most likely to think that access to the internet and social media has made people more divided in their political views — 81% hold that view — and 87% of Americans say it has made it easier to manipulate people with false information and rumors, matching the median across high-income countries.

Concerns about division are also spreading. The share of people who say the internet and social media have made people more divided in their political opinions rose to around eight-in-ten in several countries, including France (69% in 2026, up from 52% in 2022), Germany (82%, up from 65%), Poland (79%, up from 50%) and Spain (80%, up from 66%).

Governments and platforms under scrutiny

The survey lands amid tightening scrutiny of the platforms. Companies running popular social networks, including Meta, Snap and TikTok, have faced thousands of lawsuits and paid large sums to settle claims that they harmed users, while governments have been searching for ways to protect citizens’ privacy.

Australia has proposed rules to let users opt out of algorithmically recommended feeds, after becoming the first country to ban social media for children under 16. Pew’s survey found that 82% of Australian adults support the government’s move to restrict social media access for children. A majority of respondents in most countries said social media still informs people and gives them a voice in politics — but the momentum of public opinion is clearly moving in the other direction.

For broader coverage of international developments, see our world news section.

Conclusion

Pew’s 37-nation survey shows that public confidence in social media’s democratic promise is eroding in much of the world, even as most people still acknowledge its benefits for informing citizens and giving them a political voice. The shift is strongest in wealthier democracies — led by the Netherlands, the United States, France and Germany — where majorities now see the platforms as more harmful than helpful to democracy. With regulators moving and platforms facing legal pressure, the survey suggests the debate over social media’s role in public life is far from over.

Frequently asked questions

Which country is most negative about social media’s impact on democracy?

The Netherlands, where 70% of adults say social media has been more of a bad thing for democracy — up from 54% in 2022. The United States is close behind at 64%, a figure unchanged since 2022.

How many people were surveyed?

More than 45,000 adults across 37 countries, interviewed from February 8 to May 13, 2026, as part of Pew’s Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey.

Is social media still seen as good for democracy overall?

Yes, on balance: across the 37 countries, a median of 55% say social media has been more of a good thing for democracy, compared with a median of 35% who say it has been a bad thing. But the negative share is rising in most countries where earlier data is available.