10 Questions
In the Pew Research Center survey, what percentage of U.S. adults believe that social media has had a positive impact on democracy?
34%
What is the median percentage of people across the countries polled who believe social media has had a positive impact on democracy?
57%
What is the general sentiment among ordinary citizens regarding the impact of social media on democracy?
Most believe it has had a positive impact
Which age group has shown the steepest growth in social media usage over the past decade?
30-49-year-olds
In which country has social media usage seen the most dramatic growth since 2012?
Japan
Which age group is more likely to believe that social media has been good for democracy in most of the surveyed nations?
18-29-year-olds
Which of the following topics has the Pew Research Center's work NOT included?
Impact of climate change on technology usage
What percentage of people across 19 countries believe that social media has made people more susceptible to false information and rumors?
84%
Which country's respondents are the most negative about the impact of social media on democracy?
Americans
What do a median of 65% of people across 19 nations think social media has done to people's political opinions?
Made people more divided
Study Notes
Impact of Social Media on Democracy
- 84% across 19 countries believe that internet and social media have made people easier to manipulate with false information and rumors
- A median of 70% across 19 nations consider the spread of false information online to be a major threat, ranking second to climate change as a global threat
- A median of 65% think that social media has made people more divided in their political opinions
- More than four-in-ten say it has made people less civil in discussing politics
- Majorities in nearly every country surveyed feel their political system does not allow people like them to have an influence
- Social media is seen as a tool for staying informed about domestic and international events, with nearly three-quarters saying it has made people more informed about current events
- Majorities in most countries see social media as effective for raising public awareness, changing people’s minds, and influencing policy decisions
- Americans are the most negative about the impact of social media on democracy, with 64% saying it has been bad
- Americans are the most negative in their assessments of specific ways social media has affected politics and society
- An index combining responses on the negative effects of social media shows Americans stand out for their negative take on social media’s impact with an average score of 3.05, the highest in the survey
- Dutch, Hungarian, and Australian respondents are also more negative than others
- Pew Research Center’s internet and technology team has conducted survey research on the social impact of digital technologies for over two decades, focusing on topics explored in this report
Take this quiz to test your knowledge on the impact of social media on democracy. Explore findings from a Pew Research Center survey across 19 countries, including opinions on the spread of false information, political division, and public influence. Understand the varying perspectives and attitudes towards social media's role in shaping democracy.
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