More than half of European citizens doubt the veracity of the information they find on the internet, a survey by the German Bertelsmann Stiftung foundation shows.
A large majority of Europeans believe that technology companies and political decision-makers should take more action against online disinformation. Some 85% of EU citizens believe that political decision-makers should do a better job of preventing the spread of disinformation; 89% believe that operators of social networking platforms should also take more action.
This desire for more action goes hand in hand with an awareness of the problem among European citizens. Some 54% often or very often doubt the accuracy of information they find on the internet while 39% say they have already come across misinformation.
Less than half of respondents (44%) say they have ever checked information found online. Even fewer report misinformation (22%). Age plays a strong role in attitudes towards online content: the younger and better-educated the respondents, the more they question the veracity of information and take action to combat misinformation.
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The study also shows that intensive users of social networks are more exposed to misinformation. Followers of Twitter (aka X) and Telegram see it particularly often.
When it comes to the impact of social networks on democracy, Europeans are divided and there are wide variations between countries. Critical attitudes predominate in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, while Poles are much more positive about the networks’ influence on democracy.
The study is based on a survey conducted last March among 13,270 people aged between 16 and 70 across Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain.
