# Global decline in social media confidence

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-decline-in-social-media-confidence
> Updated: 2026-10-05T16:30:44.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 4.

Public confidence in social media is declining globally. A Pew Research Center study across 37 nations shows a consistent downward trend in positive sentiment since 2022, with citizens increasingly viewing platforms such as Facebook, X, TikTok, and YouTube as harmful to democratic processes. Primary concerns include misinformation, political polarization, foreign interference, and the amplification of extreme voices.

In the United States, 64% of adults believe social media harms democracy, a figure that has remained stable since 2022. Skepticism is particularly high in the Netherlands, where negative perceptions rose from 54% in 2022 to 70% recently. Other high-income nations have seen significant increases in negative sentiment, including Germany (from 41% to 61%) and France (from 51% to 65%), while Japan saw an increase from 23% to 43%. 

In contrast, sentiment remains more positive in countries such as Israel, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Thailand. However, the study highlights a broad consensus on digital risks: 79% of those surveyed believe the internet and social media facilitate manipulation through false information, and 68% believe they contribute to political polarization. These concerns are increasingly linked to the role of artificial intelligence in facilitating the mass production of misleading digital content.

In Morocco, a study by the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) has echoed these concerns, examining how digital spaces influence democratic life. The report, titled ‘Social Media Platforms and Political Communication: Between Impact and Risks of Disinformation’, warns of risks stemming from algorithmic manipulation and the spread of false information. Narjiss Raghai, head of the working group on regulation and digital media, cautioned against a potential ‘democracy subject to algorithms,’ citing the opacity of algorithms and the concentration of power among internet giants as significant challenges to transparency and civic oversight.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-05: Morocco HACA study warns of social media risks to democracy

A Moroccan study by HACA warns that social media disinformation and algorithmic polarization pose risks to democratic dialogue and political transparency.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/morocco-haca-study-warns-of-social-media-risks-to-democracy

### 2026-10-04: Social media perceived as a threat to democracy in many nations

A Pew Research Center study shows rising global concern that social media and AI-driven misinformation pose a threat to democracy, particularly in high-income nations.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pew-research-study-highlights-social-media-and-ai-threats-to-democracy

### 2026-10-02: Pew Research study shows global decline in social media confidence

A Pew Research Center study shows a global decline in confidence in social media’s role in democracy, with rising concerns over misinformation and polarization across 37 nations.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pew-research-study-shows-global-decline-in-social-media-confidence

### 2026-10-01: Social media concerns rise globally as platforms implement AI safeguards

Pew Research shows rising global fears that social media harms democracy, while platforms like TikTok implement new AI labeling and spam detection tools to combat misinformation.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/social-media-concerns-rise-globally-as-platforms-implement-ai-safeguards

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Cite as: Global decline in social media confidence. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-decline-in-social-media-confidence