Ablut 85% of people worldwide are concerned about the impact of online disinformation, with 87% believing it has already harmed their country’s politics, according to a global survey. This alarming trend has prompted the United Nations to unveil a comprehensive plan to combat this growing menace.<\/p>\n
Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, the UN’s cultural agency, emphasized the urgent need for regulation to safeguard access to accurate information while upholding freedom of expression and human rights. She presented a detailed “governance blueprint” outlining a framework for governments, regulators, and social media platforms to address the issue effectively.<\/p>\n
The survey, conducted by Ipsos in 16 countries with upcoming elections, involving 8,000 respondents, revealed the pervasiveness of social media as a news source, with 56% of internet users relying on it primarily, surpassing TV (44%) and media websites (29%).<\/p>\n
Despite the widespread use of social media for news consumption, trust in the information it provides remains significantly lower than in traditional media outlets. Only 50% trust social media for news, compared to 66% for television, 63% for radio, and 57% for media websites and apps.<\/p>\n
Across all surveyed countries, a majority (68%) identified social media as the primary platform for fake news dissemination, ahead of messaging apps (38%). This perception was remarkably consistent across demographics, including age, education level, and geographic location.<\/p>\n
The survey also highlighted the pervasive nature of hate speech online, with 67% of respondents reporting having encountered it. This figure rose to 74% among respondents under 35.<\/p>\n
An overwhelming majority (88%) expressed the need for governments and regulators to address both disinformation and hate speech, while 90% called for social media platforms to take action.<\/p>\n