Social media and democracy around the world

Global Attitudes & Trends A digest of the Center’s latest findings from its worldwide public opinion surveys and demographic research · Subscribe ↗ Majorities in most countries surveyed this spring say social media has been more of a good than bad thing for their democracy. But the share of those who say it’s bad for democracy has increased significantly in some countries in the past few years. In general, people in wealthier nations are more likely to believe social media is harming their democracy. As policymakers, business leaders and experts debate the potential economic impacts of artificial intelligence, ordinary citizens around the world express concern. In 34 of 37 countries surveyed earlier this year, people tend to believe AI will lead to fewer jobs rather than more jobs and that it will increase rather than decrease inequality in their country. Almost three years after the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Israelis and Palestinians are pessimistic about the prospect of peaceful coexistence between them. As of this spring, just 17% of Israelis and 21% of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem say a two-state solution is possible. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump met last month in Washington. Though U.S. views of China remain chilly overall, they’ve grown somewhat warmer in recent years. Today, Americans give China an average rating of 37 out of 100 on a “feeling thermometer,” up from 28 in 2021. In the news Social media harms democracy by spreading rumors, survey showsReuters Most people think AI will cut more jobs than create them; Indians feel AI will widen rich-poor gap—Pew ThePrint Pew poll finds majority of Israelis and Palestinians say two-state coexistence impossible Times of Israel Notable global research About Half of World’s Population Worried by Air Pollution Gallup What Worries the World Ipsos Cybersecurity at the workplace: awareness and preparedness among employees Eurobarometer From our research