Comparing the U.S. to other nations on the impact of the internet and social media
% who say access to the internet and social media has made people more …
Note: We include the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the group of middle-income countries for analysis, though the corresponding World Bank classification is for the West Bank and Gaza. We were unable to survey in Gaza.
Source: Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey.
“Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy”
“Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Comparing the U.S. to other nations on the impact of the internet and social media
% who say access to the internet and social media has made people more …
| Country | Informed about current events | Divided in their political opinions | Easy to manipulate with false information and rumors | Able to have a meaningful voice in politics | World Bank classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 68 | 81 | 87 | 50 | High-income |
| Canada | 74 | 77 | 87 | 58 | High-income |
| France | 77 | 69 | 88 | 59 | High-income |
| Germany | 80 | 82 | 87 | 57 | High-income |
| Greece | 79 | 69 | 87 | 47 | High-income |
| Hungary | 74 | 79 | 85 | 59 | High-income |
| Italy | 74 | 62 | 88 | 51 | High-income |
| Netherlands | 83 | 82 | 93 | 57 | High-income |
| Poland | 79 | 79 | 88 | 70 | High-income |
| Spain | 77 | 80 | 87 | 73 | High-income |
| Sweden | 83 | 72 | 90 | 67 | High-income |
| U.K. | 77 | 79 | 91 | 53 | High-income |
| Australia | 74 | 79 | 90 | 52 | High-income |
| Bangladesh | 64 | 55 | 66 | 54 | Middle-income |
| India | 66 | 51 | 62 | 55 | Middle-income |
| Indonesia | 77 | 55 | 66 | 55 | Middle-income |
| Japan | 89 | 64 | 88 | 79 | High-income |
| Malaysia | 71 | 53 | 68 | 49 | Middle-income |
| Pakistan | 74 | 62 | 70 | 68 | Middle-income |
| Philippines | 74 | 66 | 70 | 71 | Middle-income |
| Singapore | 81 | 60 | 77 | 59 | High-income |
| South Korea | 80 | 74 | 79 | 77 | High-income |
| Sri Lanka | 73 | 63 | 78 | 62 | Middle-income |
| Thailand | 88 | 78 | 83 | 79 | Middle-income |
| Israel | 80 | 55 | 63 | 73 | High-income |
| Turkey | 75 | 66 | 71 | 64 | Middle-income |
| West Bank / East Jerusalem | 88 | 73 | 87 | 62 | Middle-income |
| Ghana | 83 | 63 | 76 | 77 | Middle-income |
| Kenya | 70 | 47 | 64 | 60 | Middle-income |
| Nigeria | 80 | 60 | 69 | 73 | Middle-income |
| South Africa | 76 | 57 | 71 | 60 | Middle-income |
| Argentina | 75 | 72 | 80 | 52 | Middle-income |
| Brazil | 73 | 64 | 78 | 60 | Middle-income |
| Chile | 74 | 73 | 80 | 56 | High-income |
| Colombia | 77 | 68 | 77 | 63 | Middle-income |
| Mexico | 81 | 64 | 75 | 57 | Middle-income |
| Peru | 80 | 70 | 75 | 61 | Middle-income |
| Middle-income country median | 75 | 63 | 71 | 61 | Middle-income |
| High-income median | 78 | 76 | 87 | 59 | High-income |
| 37-country median | 77 | 68 | 79 | 60 |
Note: We include the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the group of middle-income countries for analysis, though the corresponding World Bank classification is for the West Bank and Gaza. We were unable to survey in Gaza.
Source: Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey.
“Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy”
“Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
