Wealthier Countries More Wary of Social Media

A 37‑country Pew poll finds people in higher‑income countries (e.g., US, Canada, UK, Australia) are noticeably more likely to say social media harms democracy than respondents in lower‑income countries (e.g., Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria). The survey also shows very high public support in Australia for restricting youth access and for opt‑outs from algorithmic feeds. — If skepticism about platforms clusters in wealthier democracies, regulatory pressure, litigation and political backlash will concentrate there first and shape global platform governance.