Views of social media’s impact on democracy are more negative among high-income countries, including the U.S.
% who say social media has been more of a bad thing for democracy in their country
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
Views of social media’s impact on democracy are more negative among high-income countries, including the U.S.
% who say social media has been more of a bad thing for democracy in their country
| Country | Bad thing | World Bank classification |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 64 | High-income |
| Canada | 55 | High-income |
| France | 65 | High-income |
| Germany | 61 | High-income |
| Greece | 43 | High-income |
| Hungary | 42 | High-income |
| Italy | 44 | High-income |
| Netherlands | 70 | High-income |
| Poland | 35 | High-income |
| Spain | 47 | High-income |
| Sweden | 47 | High-income |
| U.K. | 56 | High-income |
| Australia | 52 | High-income |
| Bangladesh | 28 | Middle-income |
| India | 23 | Middle-income |
| Indonesia | 43 | Middle-income |
| Japan | 43 | High-income |
| Malaysia | 27 | Middle-income |
| Pakistan | 33 | Middle-income |
| Philippines | 23 | Middle-income |
| Singapore | 22 | High-income |
| South Korea | 38 | High-income |
| Sri Lanka | 35 | Middle-income |
| Thailand | 21 | Middle-income |
| Israel | 22 | High-income |
| Turkey | 35 | Middle-income |
| West Bank / East Jerusalem | 35 | Middle-income |
| Ghana | 21 | Middle-income |
| Kenya | 24 | Middle-income |
| Nigeria | 11 | Middle-income |
| South Africa | 28 | Middle-income |
| Argentina | 35 | Middle-income |
| Brazil | 29 | Middle-income |
| Chile | 43 | High-income |
| Colombia | 33 | Middle-income |
| Mexico | 26 | Middle-income |
| Peru | 34 | Middle-income |
| Middle-income country median | 28 | Middle-income |
| High-income median | 46 | High-income |
| 37-country median | 35 |
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
