{"id":93290,"date":"2019-05-13T09:49:22","date_gmt":"2019-05-13T14:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/"},"modified":"2024-08-07T17:15:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T21:15:36","slug":"users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"1. Users say they regularly encounter false and misleading content on social media \u2013 but also new ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social media use has <a href=\"http:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2018\/06\/19\/social-media-use-continues-to-rise-in-developing-countries-but-plateaus-across-developed-ones\/\">increased<\/a> in emerging and developing nations in recent years. And, across the 11 emerging economies surveyed for this report, a median of 28% of adults say social media are <em>very<\/em> important for helping them keep up with political news and other developments happening in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>[4.numoffset=&#8221;4&#8243; Social media platform and messaging app users include those who say they use one or more of the seven specific online platforms asked about on the survey: Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Viber, Instagram, Snapchat and Tinder. Overall, a median of 64% use at least one of these platforms across these 11 countries.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, opinions are divided when it comes to the reliability, bias and hateful nature of social media content when compared with other sources. And when asked about the kinds of material they encounter on these sites, majorities in most countries report at least occasionally seeing content that seems obviously false or untrue or that makes them feel negatively about groups different from them. Across almost all these measures, those who say social media are very important sources of political information see these platforms in different \u2013 and often more extreme \u2013 terms than other social media users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;fewer-rely-on-or-trust-social-media-for-political-news-than-say-the-same-of-in-person-discussions&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fewer-rely-on-or-trust-social-media-for-political-news-than-say-the-same-of-in-person-discussions\">Fewer rely on or trust social media for political news than say the same of in-person discussions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even as social media use <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2018\/06\/19\/social-media-use-continues-to-rise-in-developing-countries-but-plateaus-across-developed-ones\/\">has become more common<\/a> in many emerging countries, in only four of the 11 countries surveyed do a majority of people say these platforms are an important source of political information \u2013 and nowhere does a majority say social media are <em>very<\/em> important for learning about politics. All told, a median of 28% of adults say social media are very important for helping them keep up with political news and other developments happening in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In every country, many fewer people say social media are very important for helping them keep up with political events than say the same about a more traditional form of social networking \u2013 having discussions in person with people they see regularly. In every country but Mexico, a majority says in-person discussions are an important way they stay informed. Around four-in-ten or more in most countries say these conversations are <em>very<\/em> important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/pi-pg_2019-05-13_technology-and-politics-emerging-economies_1-01-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-22467\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e2e4e8\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e2e4e8;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1014\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart showing that in most countries included in the survey, in-person discussions are seen as more valuable for keeping up with political news than social media.\" class=\"wp-image-115980 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png 1280w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=300,238 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=768,608 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=1024,811 1024w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=511,405 511w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=200,158 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=260,206 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=310,246 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=420,333 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=640,507 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=740,586 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=160,127 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-01.png?resize=320,254 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the reason people place less importance on social media might stem from the fact that social media use can <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/03\/07\/use-of-smartphones-and-social-media-is-common-across-most-emerging-economies\/\">vary widely<\/a> across these 11 countries \u2013 from a low of 31% in India to a high of 85% in Lebanon. But even among those who use these platforms, only in four of the 11 countries surveyed (South Africa, Tunisia, Venezuela and Kenya) do about half or more social media users say these platforms are <em>very<\/em> important sources for helping them keep up with political news and global happenings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In every country, younger and more educated people are more likely to say social media are very important to them for political news.[5. For the purpose of comparing education groups across countries, we standardize education levels based on the United Nations\u2019 International Standard Classification of Education. In all nations surveyed, the lower education category is below secondary education and the higher category is secondary or above.] However, in many instances this is largely due to high levels of social media adoption among the young and more educated. Among those who say they use social media, people with higher and lower levels of education are equally likely to say these platforms are a very important source of political news in seven of these 11 countries, and the same is true of older and younger social media users in six countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you haven\u2019t watched the news today, at least you can still watch it on Facebook.<cite>MAN, 40, PHILIPPINES<\/cite><\/p>\n<cite>MAN, 40, PHILIPPINES<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"publics-in-these-countries-more-likely-to-trust-political-information-from-in-person-conversations-than-from-social-media\">Publics in these countries more likely to trust political information from in-person conversations than from social media<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More broadly, relatively few adults in these countries say they trust the information they get from social media platforms. Among all adults, a median of 35% trust the political news they get on social media, including a median of just 10% who trust it a great deal. Among the subset of adults in these countries who use social media, an 11-country median of 55% say they trust the information they find on social media at least somewhat \u2013 ranging from highs of about seven-in-ten in the Philippines, Kenya, India and Venezuela to lows of less than half in Colombia and Mexico. Few users in most countries trust the news they get on social media a great deal \u2013 varying from only 8% of Jordanian social media users to 31% of Kenyan users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/pi-pg_2019-05-13_technology-and-politics-emerging-economies_1-02-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-22468\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e9ebed\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e9ebed;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"970\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart showing that larger shares in the surveyed countries trust news they get from others in person than those who trust what they see on social media.\" class=\"wp-image-115987 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png 1280w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=300,227 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=768,582 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=1024,776 1024w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=534,405 534w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=200,152 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=260,197 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=310,235 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=420,318 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=640,485 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=740,561 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=160,121 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-02.png?resize=320,243 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These levels of trust stand out in comparison with the faith people place in the information they gather from face-to-face conversations with people they see regularly. When it comes to in-person conversations, a median of 72% of adults say they trust the information they glean from these discussions, and in eight countries, around a quarter or more say they trust the information a great deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;social-media-users-regularly-see-incorrect-information-and-content-that-makes-them-feel-negatively-about-other-groups&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"social-media-users-regularly-see-incorrect-information-and-content-that-makes-them-feel-negatively-about-other-groups\">Social media users regularly see incorrect information and content that makes them feel negatively about other groups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social media users report a mix of positive and negative experiences related to the content they see on these platforms. This survey asked about the frequency with which people encounter three specific types of content on social media: content that introduces them to new ideas, that seems obviously false or untrue, or that makes them feel negatively about groups of people who are different from them. Although in no country do a majority of social media users see any of these types of content <em>frequently,<\/em> in many countries a majority reports seeing all of them at least occasionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A median of three-quarters of social media platform and messaging app users say they frequently or occasionally see articles or other content that introduce them to a new idea, ranging from more than eight-in-ten in Tunisia to about half in Mexico. Smaller shares see this content frequently \u2013 around four-in-ten or fewer in most countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Publics are more likely to say they regularly see content that introduces them to a new idea than to say they regularly see content that seems obviously false or untrue, or that provokes negative feelings toward others. Still, majorities of social media users in most countries surveyed see both at least occasionally, including about two-thirds or more in Tunisia, Lebanon and Vietnam. And very few social media users say they <em>never<\/em> see content like this: A median of 17% of social media users report never seeing articles that make them feel negatively toward groups of people different from them, and just 8% never see content that appears to be obviously false or untrue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/pi-pg_2019-05-13_technology-and-politics-emerging-economies_1-03-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-22469\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ced9e1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ced9e1;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1012\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart showing that social media users in emerging economies regularly see articles or other content that introduce them to new ideas, but many also report seeing things that are false or misleading.\" class=\"wp-image-115992 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png 1280w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=300,237 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=768,607 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=1024,810 1024w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=512,405 512w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=200,158 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=260,206 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=310,245 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=420,332 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=640,506 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=740,585 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=160,127 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-03.png?resize=320,253 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social media users who access more than one platform are more likely than those who just use a single platform to come across all three kinds of content. The differences are especially large in Lebanon: 83% of Lebanese who access multiple social media sites regularly see articles that seem obviously false or untrue, compared with only about half (48%) of those who use a single site. In Tunisia, on the other hand, access to multiple platforms is not linked with someone\u2019s likelihood of coming across these kinds of content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/pi-pg_2019-05-13_technology-and-politics-emerging-economies_1-04-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-22470\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ebebe9\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ebebe9;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"994\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?w=640\" alt=\"Table showing that social media users in emerging economies who are connected across multiple platforms are more likely to see both positive and negative content on social media.\" class=\"wp-image-115998 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png 1280w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=300,233 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=768,596 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=1024,795 1024w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=522,405 522w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=200,155 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=260,202 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=310,241 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=420,326 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=640,497 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=740,575 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=160,124 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-04.png?resize=320,249 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These differences in platform use are themselves related to social media users\u2019 age and education. Older and less educated social media users are more likely to use only one site, while younger and more educated users are more likely to use many. Consequently, younger and more educated social media users are generally more likely to encounter all kinds of content than older and less educated users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote full is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s bad enough that websites like Facebook already cocoon users because the author serves you information that he thinks you want to see and hear, based on what you\u2019ve already seen and heard \u2026. Now we learn on top of this, the information may not be true.<cite>MAN, 25, PHILIPPINES<\/cite><\/p>\n<cite>MAN, 25, PHILIPPINES<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;users-have-mixed-opinions-about-the-nature-of-the-content-they-find-on-social-media&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"users-have-mixed-opinions-about-the-nature-of-the-content-they-find-on-social-media\">Users have mixed opinions about the nature of the content they find on social media<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to encountering a mix of positive and negative content on these platforms, social media users in these countries also have mixed opinions about the nature of what they see on social media relative to other information sources. In most countries, larger shares say these social media platforms are more up to date, informative and focused on issues that are personally important to them. But there is much more disagreement over whether these platforms are more reliable, hateful or biased than other information sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pluralities-in-most-countries-see-social-media-as-more-informative-than-other-sources\">Pluralities in most countries see social media as more informative than other sources<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pluralities of social media users in most countries surveyed say social media are more informative and focused on issues important to them compared with other sources: Six-in-ten or more in Lebanon and Vietnam say these platforms are more informative, while about half say the same in Venezuela, South Africa, Tunisia and the Philippines. But Mexicans and Colombians take a different view. In these countries, only about a quarter of social media users say these platforms are more informative than other sources, with roughly half saying they are similarly informative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[Facebook] identifies you and it sends you whatever you like the most. The information is more precise and it corresponds to your personality.<cite>WOMAN, 34, MEXICO<\/cite><\/p>\n<cite>WOMAN, 34, MEXICO<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, in no country does a majority say the news and information they get on social media is more focused on issues important to them compared with other sources. Instead, many say the news they get on social media is about as focused on issues they care about as other sources, if not less so. Half of Colombian social media users, for example, say the news and information they get on social media is about as focused on issues that are important to them as the news they get elsewhere. And about four-in-ten Kenyan users feel it is <em>less<\/em> focused on personally relevant issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/pi-pg_2019-05-13_technology-and-politics-emerging-economies_1-05-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-22471\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d1d6d5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d1d6d5;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1094\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart showing that in many countries included in the survey, pluralities of social media users see content on these platforms as more informative and more focused on issues important to them compared to other sources.\" class=\"wp-image-116005 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png 1280w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=300,256 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=768,656 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=1024,875 1024w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=474,405 474w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=200,171 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=260,222 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=310,265 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=420,359 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=640,547 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=740,632 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=160,137 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-05.png?resize=320,274 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These views are closely related to one another. In every country surveyed, social media users who feel these platforms deliver content that is more personally relevant than other sources are also more likely to say social media are more informative \u2013 and the reverse is also true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"more-say-social-media-deliver-timely-material-than-say-the-platforms-are-reliable\">More say social media deliver timely material than say the platforms are reliable<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In most countries, about half or more social media users say the content they get from social media is more up to date than what they get from other sources. Jordanians, Lebanese, Venezuelans and Vietnamese are especially likely to rate social media as more up to date than other sources, while Colombians are least likely to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/pi-pg_2019-05-13_technology-and-politics-emerging-economies_1-06-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-22472\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d1d7d5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d1d7d5;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1024\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart showing that social media news is viewed by people in emerging economies as more up to date, but fewer say it is more reliable.\" class=\"wp-image-116012 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png 1280w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=768,614 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=1024,819 1024w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=506,405 506w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=200,160 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=260,208 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=310,248 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=420,336 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=640,512 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=740,592 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=160,128 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-06.png?resize=320,256 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I compare social media and the media houses, the media houses are more reliable \u2026 on social media you find some bloggers who are conveying false information and false news just to hurt other people, or to just lie.<cite>MAN, 26, KENYA<\/cite><\/p>\n<cite>MAN, 26, KENYA<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By contrast, in each of the 11 countries surveyed, smaller shares say the news and information they get on social media is more reliable than what they get elsewhere. But although relatively few think social media are <em>more<\/em> reliable than other sources, in no country does a majority think social media are <em>less<\/em> reliable. Instead, many say that social media are about as reliable as other sources. Only in the Philippines and Vietnam does the largest share of users view these platforms as more reliable than other sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, individuals who rate social media positively in one of these respects are also more likely to rate it positively in the other. Those who say the news and information on social media is more up to date are <em>also<\/em> more likely to say it is more reliable, and vice versa. Consider South Africa: More than half of South Africans (53%) who say social media news is more up to date also say it is more reliable than other sources, and a majority of South Africans who say it is less up to date (55%) say it is less reliable than other sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"social-media-users-divided-over-whether-content-there-is-more-biased-hateful-than-other-sources\">Social media users divided over whether content there is more biased, hateful than other sources\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/pi-pg_2019-05-13_technology-and-politics-emerging-economies_1-07-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dadedb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dadedb;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" height=\"816\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png?w=389\" alt=\"Charts showing that around three-in-ten social media users in emerging economies say news and information on social media sites is more biased and more hateful compared with other sources.\" class=\"wp-image-116017 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png 620w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png?resize=114,300 114w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png?resize=389,1024 389w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png?resize=584,1536 584w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png?resize=154,405 154w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png?resize=200,526 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png?resize=260,684 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png?resize=310,816 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png?resize=420,1106 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png?resize=122,320 122w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-07.png?resize=243,640 243w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social media users have mixed views when it comes to the degree of bias they see on social media. Pluralities in five countries \u2013 Colombia, Mexico, the Philippines, Venezuela and Tunisia \u2013 view content on social media as comparably biased to what they get elsewhere. But in other countries, the balance of sentiment points in different directions: A plurality of Indian and Lebanese social media users say social media content is <em>more<\/em> biased, while a plurality of Kenyan users say it is <em>less<\/em> biased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is also a nearly even split across countries in people\u2019s views of how hateful the news and information on social media is. A median of 31% say social media content is more hateful than content from other sources, while 30% say it is less hateful and 34% say they are about the same. Four-in-ten or more Lebanese and Colombians see more hateful content on social media than elsewhere, while similar shares of Kenyans and Vietnamese see less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As with assessments of the timeliness and reliability of social media, views of bias and hatefulness also go together. People who say social media are more biased than other sources are more likely to say these sources are more hateful, and vice-versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before and during the election, there was incitement and violence and social media fueled this. \u2026 But the same social media brings togetherness and peace in this country.<cite>MAN, 26, KENYA<\/cite><\/p>\n<cite>MAN, 26, KENYA<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These attitudes vary only modestly by age and educational attainment. Larger shares of social media users with a secondary education or more say social media are more biased and hateful than other sources in Colombia, India and Mexico, but these assessments do not vary by educational attainment in the other countries surveyed. And age-related differences are even less common. Only in Mexico, Kenya and Vietnam do those ages 50 and older and those under 30 differ in their views of the bias on social media, and only in India do they differ when it comes to hatefulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"those-who-view-social-media-as-a-very-important-source-of-political-information-tend-to-have-more-positive-views-of-these-platforms\">Those who view social media as a very important source of political information tend to have more positive views of these platforms<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Across many of these attributes, those who say social media are very important for helping them get political information stand apart from social media users who do not say these platforms are very important political news sources. They are more likely than other social media users to call the news and information they get on social media more informative, timely, reliable and focused on issues important to them than other users in every country but Venezuela. In eight countries, they are more likely to call the information they get from social media more biased compared with other sources. But when it comes to the potentially hateful nature of news on social media, in most countries, social media users tend to view news on these platforms in similar terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/pi-pg_2019-05-13_technology-and-politics-emerging-economies_1-08-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-22474\"><img data-dominant-color=\"eff0ef\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #eff0ef;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1760\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?w=640\" alt=\"Charts showing that those in emerging economies who view social media as a very important source of political content are more likely to see these platforms as a heightened version of other options.\" class=\"wp-image-116026 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png 1280w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=218,300 218w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=768,1056 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=745,1024 745w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=1117,1536 1117w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=295,405 295w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=200,275 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=260,358 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=310,426 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=420,578 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=640,880 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=740,1018 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=160,220 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/PI-PG_2019.05.13_Technology-and-Politics-Emerging-Economies_1-08.png?resize=320,440 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Social media use has increased in emerging and developing nations in recent years. And, across the 11 emerging economies surveyed for this report, a median of 28% of adults say social media are very important for helping them keep up with political news and other developments happening in the world. At the same time, opinions [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_crdt_document":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"bylines":[],"acknowledgements":[],"displayBylines":true,"relatedPosts":[],"reportMaterials":[],"multiSectionReport":[],"package_parts__enabled":false,"package_parts":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[297,128,329,282,308,284,57,25,274,307],"tags":[],"bylines":[],"collection":[],"datasets":[1019],"level_of_effort":[],"primary_audience":[],"information_type":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[458],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[],"research-teams":[525,526],"class_list":["post-93290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-emerging-technology","category-international-technology","category-misinformation","category-misinformation-online","category-mobile","category-online-activism","category-political-civic-engagement","category-politics-policy","category-politics-online","category-social-media","datasets-mobile-technology-social-impact-2018","formats-report","research-teams-global","research-teams-internet"],"label":false,"post_parent":93298,"word_count":2471,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/","art_direction":false,"_embeds":[],"table_of_contents":[{"id":93298,"title":"Publics in Emerging Economies Worry Social Media Sow Division, Even as They Offer New Chances for Political Engagement","slug":"publics-in-emerging-economies-worry-social-media-sow-division-even-as-they-offer-new-chances-for-political-engagement-2","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/publics-in-emerging-economies-worry-social-media-sow-division-even-as-they-offer-new-chances-for-political-engagement-2\/","is_active":false},{"id":93290,"title":"1. Users say they regularly encounter false and misleading content on social media \u2013 but also new ideas","slug":"users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/users-say-they-regularly-encounter-false-and-misleading-content-on-social-media-but-also-new-ideas\/","is_active":true},{"id":93283,"title":"2. More people are comfortable discussing politics in person than on their phones or via social media","slug":"more-people-are-comfortable-discussing-politics-in-person-than-on-their-phones-or-via-social-media","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/more-people-are-comfortable-discussing-politics-in-person-than-on-their-phones-or-via-social-media\/","is_active":false},{"id":93273,"title":"3. Publics think technology impacts the political environment in both positive and negative ways","slug":"publics-think-technology-impacts-the-political-environment-in-both-positive-and-negative-ways","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/publics-think-technology-impacts-the-political-environment-in-both-positive-and-negative-ways\/","is_active":false},{"id":93265,"title":"Acknowledgments","slug":"technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-acknowledgments","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-acknowledgments\/","is_active":false},{"id":93260,"title":"Methodology","slug":"technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-methodology","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-methodology\/","is_active":false},{"id":93248,"title":"Appendix A: About the focus groups","slug":"technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-a-about-the-focus-groups","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-a-about-the-focus-groups\/","is_active":false},{"id":93240,"title":"Appendix B: Technology-related surveys regularly find that people see connectivity bringing positives and negatives","slug":"technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-b-technology-related-surveys-regularly-find-that-people-see-connectivity-bringing-positives-and-negatives","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-b-technology-related-surveys-regularly-find-that-people-see-connectivity-bringing-positives-and-negatives\/","is_active":false},{"id":93234,"title":"Appendix C: Detailed tables","slug":"technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-c-detailed-tables","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-c-detailed-tables\/","is_active":false}],"report_materials":"","report_pagination":{"current_post":{"id":93290,"title":"1. 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Publics think technology impacts the political environment in both positive and negative ways","slug":"publics-think-technology-impacts-the-political-environment-in-both-positive-and-negative-ways","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/publics-think-technology-impacts-the-political-environment-in-both-positive-and-negative-ways\/","is_active":false,"page_num":4},{"id":93265,"title":"Acknowledgments","slug":"technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-acknowledgments","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-acknowledgments\/","is_active":false,"page_num":5},{"id":93260,"title":"Methodology","slug":"technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-methodology","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-methodology\/","is_active":false,"page_num":6},{"id":93248,"title":"Appendix A: About the focus groups","slug":"technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-a-about-the-focus-groups","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-a-about-the-focus-groups\/","is_active":false,"page_num":7},{"id":93240,"title":"Appendix B: Technology-related surveys regularly find that people see connectivity bringing positives and negatives","slug":"technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-b-technology-related-surveys-regularly-find-that-people-see-connectivity-bringing-positives-and-negatives","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-b-technology-related-surveys-regularly-find-that-people-see-connectivity-bringing-positives-and-negatives\/","is_active":false,"page_num":8},{"id":93234,"title":"Appendix C: Detailed tables","slug":"technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-c-detailed-tables","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2019\/05\/13\/technology-and-politics-in-emerging-economies-appendix-c-detailed-tables\/","is_active":false,"page_num":9}]},"parent_info":{"parent_title":"Publics in Emerging Economies Worry Social Media Sow Division, Even as They Offer New Chances for Political Engagement","parent_id":93298},"materialsOrdered":[],"chaptersOrdered":[],"partsOrdered":[],"partsEnabled":false,"datacite_doi":"","prc_seo_data":{"title":"People say they regularly see false and misleading content on social media \u2013 but also new ideas","description":"Social media use has increased in emerging and developing nations in recent years. 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