Global Survey: False Information Online Perceived as Major Threat

In a comprehensive global survey spanning 25 nations, an overwhelming 72% of adults consider the spread of false information online to be a major threat to their countries, according to new research from Pew Research Center. Another 21% view it as a minor threat, while just 5% dismiss it entirely.

The concern transcends economic boundaries, with similar levels of alarm evident across both high and middle-income nations. The findings reveal a remarkably consistent pattern of concern that has remained stable over time, suggesting the issue has become an entrenched global worry.

In 24 of the 25 surveyed nations, majorities consider online misinformation a major threat. Only Israel bucked this trend, with 43% viewing it as a major threat, 27% considering it minor, and a notable 20% seeing no threat at all.

“These findings underscore the universality of concern about digital misinformation regardless of a nation’s economic development level,” said a spokesperson for the research team. “It’s one of the few issues that generates such consistent worry across different societies.”

When compared to similar research conducted in 2022, public perception has remained relatively stable in most countries. However, significant increases in concern were noted in several European nations. Poland saw the largest jump, with a 20-percentage point increase in those viewing misinformation as a major threat. Other notable increases occurred in Sweden (+10 points), Hungary (+9), France (+6), and Germany (+6). Only Greece showed a decline, dropping 7 points to 72%.

The demographic breakdown reveals interesting patterns across age groups. In countries including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Japan, Kenya, Poland, Sweden, and the United States, adults over 50 express greater concern about online misinformation than their 18-34 year old counterparts. This generational divide potentially reflects different levels of digital literacy, media consumption habits, and historical perspectives on information reliability.

Brazil and Turkey present a contrary pattern, with younger adults expressing greater concern than older generations. Researchers noted that older adults in these countries were slightly less likely to respond to this particular question, which may have influenced the results.

Political ideology also plays a significant role in shaping perceptions about misinformation. In nine surveyed countries, people who identify themselves as politically left-leaning are more likely to view online falsehoods as a major threat compared to those on the right. This ideological divide is particularly pronounced in Germany and the United States, where 82% of liberal Americans see misinformation as a major threat, compared to 60% of conservatives.

Israel again stands as an exception, being the only surveyed nation where those on the political left are less concerned about online misinformation than their right-wing counterparts.

The research also examined attitudes among supporters of populist political movements in Europe. Supporters of right-wing populist parties consistently show less concern about online misinformation than non-supporters. In Germany, for instance, 55% of those with favorable views of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) consider false information a major threat, compared to 89% of those who view the party unfavorably.

Similar patterns emerge among supporters of right-wing populist movements in Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Interestingly, supporters of Spain’s left-leaning populist party Podemos break this pattern, showing greater concern about online misinformation (83%) than non-supporters (71%).

As digital platforms continue to evolve and artificial intelligence makes misinformation increasingly sophisticated, these findings highlight a growing global consensus about the dangers posed by false information in the digital age, even as political and demographic factors influence how these threats are perceived.