Pew Research Center

2. Urban, suburban and rural residents’ views on key social and political issues

As urban and rural communities are becoming more distinct along demographic lines, they are also becoming more polarized politically. Americans in urban and rural communities have widely different ...
Pew Research Center

Why do ‘leaners’ lean toward one party? It’s often because they oppose the other party’s policies

Note: Partisans do not include those who lean to each party. Leaners are those who do not identify as Republican or Democrat (identifying as independent or with another party) and lean toward either ...
Pew Research Center

Social Media Platform Use Around the World

Facebook is generally the top platform globally, followed by Instagram, while fewer overall use TikTok, X or Snapchat.
Pew Research Center

Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy

Most think social media leads to manipulation and division, but they also say it informs people and gives them a voice in ...
Pew Research Center

For independents who lean toward a party, the top reason is perceived harm from the other party’s policies

Note: Leaners are those who do not identify as Republican or Democratic (identifying as independent or with another party) and lean toward either the Republican or Democratic Party. No answer ...
Pew Research Center

Americans Are Negative About Social Media’s Impact on Democracy – and the Rest of the World Is Catching Up

In 2026, 64% of Americans say social media is harming their democracy, and attitudes in many other countries are ...
Pew Research Center

How well synthetic samples replicate public opinion

Synthetic survey respondents tend to exaggerate differences between demographic subgroups and portray some responses as ...
Pew Research Center

Comparing the U.S. to other nations on the impact of the internet and social media

Note: We include the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the group of middle-income countries for analysis, though the corresponding World Bank classification is for the West Bank and Gaza. We were unable ...
Pew Research Center

Many say social media has both positive and negative consequences for democracy

Many say social media and the internet have both positive and negative consequences for democracy Fresh data delivered Saturday mornings Thank you for subscribing! 901 E St. NW, Suite 300 Washington, ...
Pew Research Center

Facebook is most popular with young people in middle-income countries, less so in high-income

Note: Statistically significant differences are in bold. Source: Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey and survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 30-June 18, 2026. Fresh data delivered Saturday mornings ...
Pew Research Center

Most say social media has been good for democracy but many in high-income nations disagree

Note: Those who did not answer are not shown. Source: Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey. Fresh data delivered Saturday mornings Thank you for subscribing! 901 E St. NW, Suite 300 ...
Pew Research Center

Some nations are now as negative as the U.S. about social media’s impact on democracy

Note: Only the U.S. and countries with statistically significant changes from 2022 are shown. Highlighted countries include places where majorities now say social media has been more of a bad thing ...