Global Survey Finds Mixed Views on Social Media’s Impact on Democracy, with U.S. as Outlier

A new comprehensive survey by Pew Research Center reveals that citizens across 19 advanced economies view social media as both constructive and destructive for political life, with a majority believing it has been positive for democracy overall. The study, conducted among nearly 25,000 adults between February and June 2022, shows 57% of respondents consider social media “more of a good thing” for their democratic systems.

The United States stands as a notable exception to this trend. Only 34% of Americans see social media as beneficial for democracy, while 64% believe it has had a detrimental impact—the highest negative rating among all countries surveyed.

“Americans are consistently among the most negative in their assessments of specific ways social media has affected politics and society,” the report notes. The U.S. recorded the highest percentage (79%) of respondents who believe social media has made people more politically divided, and 69% say it has reduced civility in political discourse.

The researchers created an index measuring negative perceptions across six dimensions, confirming that Americans hold the most negative views overall, with the Netherlands, Hungary, and Australia also trending more pessimistic than other nations.

Despite widespread concerns, many respondents across countries see value in how social media platforms empower citizens. Nearly three-quarters believe the internet and social media have made people better informed about current events, both domestically and internationally. This information access appears particularly valuable given that majorities in nearly every country surveyed feel their political systems don’t allow ordinary citizens to influence politics.

Singapore, Malaysia, Poland, Sweden, Hungary, and Israel reported the most positive assessments of social media’s democratic impact, with at least 65% in each country viewing it favorably.

The survey also documented the remarkable growth of social media usage over the past decade. Japan showed the most dramatic increase, jumping from 30% adoption in 2012 to 75% today. Substantial growth also occurred in France, Poland, Spain, the U.S., and the United Kingdom. While young adults remain the most active users of social media, the age gap has narrowed significantly, with particularly steep growth among those aged 30-49 and those 50 and older.

Age differences extend beyond usage patterns to attitudes about impact. In 12 of the 19 countries surveyed, adults aged 18-29 were more likely than those 50 and older to view social media as beneficial for democracy. In Poland, for example, 87% of young adults see social media’s political effect as positive, compared to just 46% of older Poles.

Despite the generally positive assessment of social media’s democratic influence, respondents across countries recognize significant drawbacks. A striking 84% believe these platforms make people more vulnerable to manipulation through false information and rumors. This concern aligns with a previous finding from the same survey showing that 70% of respondents consider the spread of false information online to be a major global threat, second only to climate change.

Additionally, 65% believe social media has increased political polarization, while only about a quarter think it has improved civility in political discourse.

The study highlights a complex global relationship with digital platforms, where citizens recognize both the democratizing potential of social media and its capacity to undermine healthy civic engagement—with Americans uniquely pessimistic about the overall balance.