Social Rocket
A new 37 multi-country survey by the Pew Research Center shows a clear shift in mood in Germany. 61 percent of respondents say 2026 social media is rather bad for democracy. 2022, this share was 41 percent.
82 percent see more political polarisation
The assessment of social polarisation is even clearer: 82 percent of respondents in Germany say the internet and social media have pushed people further apart in their political views. 2022 it was 65 percent.
At the same time, many respondents see clear benefits. 80 percent say digital media have kept people better informed about current events. 57 percent see a positive effect in being able to give political issues a voice. 87 percent, however, also say digital media make it easier to mislead people with false information and rumours.
Why this matters for social teams
The data measure attitudes, not a direct cause. They do show, however, that platforms are perceived both as important information channels and as a problematic social infrastructure.
For brands, this increases the value of traceable sources, clear senders and clean labelling. Our social media compliance checklist2026 shows which governance steps teams should now build into their workflows.
Regulation also plays a bigger role in this environment. France's push for an EU-wide social media ban for under-15-year-olds shows how social scepticism turns into concrete political demands.
For campaigns with a political or social angle, it is also worth looking at the Snapchat study on political advertising and peer influence.
What the numbers do not prove
The Pew survey measures perceptions. It does not prove that social media alone causes political polarisation. For marketing and communications teams, perception still matters, because it shapes how users judge platforms, advertising and senders.