Social media perceived as a threat to democracy in many nations

A Pew Research Center study across 37 countries indicates growing concerns regarding social media's impact on democracy. In many high-income nations, citizens increasingly view these platforms as sources of misinformation and tools for political polarization.

In several countries, the percentage of people viewing social media as harmful to democracy has risen significantly since 2022 or 2023. For example, in Germany, the figure rose from 41% to 61%, while in the Netherlands, it increased from 54% to 70%. In France, the sentiment grew from 51% to 65%, and in Japan, it rose from 23% to 43%. In the United States, 64% of residents believe social media is detrimental to democracy, a figure that has remained stable since 2022.

The rise in negative sentiment is linked to the increasing ability of artificial intelligence to produce and spread misleading digital content and narratives at scale. Despite these concerns, many respondents still acknowledge benefits, with 77% stating that the internet and social media help people stay more informed.