Indonesians No Longer Trust Social Media, Say It Damages the Country

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Global public perception regarding the impact of social media has shifted significantly in recent years. The Pew Research Center released a survey covering 37 countries on October 1, 2026.

Overall, an average of 55 percent of citizens still view social media as having a positive impact on democracy, while 35 percent hold the opposite view. However, negative views tend to dominate in high-income countries. In the United States, 64 percent consider social media detrimental to democracy. This shift in perspective is also clearly evident in Indonesia—which has seen one of the sharpest changes in Southeast Asia—according to an official Pew report released on Friday (October 2, 2026).

Three years ago, in a 2023 survey, 64 percent of Indonesians believed social media had a positive impact on democracy. That figure has now dropped to 55 percent. Conversely, the proportion of those who view social media as detrimental to democracy has risen sharply from 24 percent to 43 percent. This 19-percentage-point increase marks Indonesia as one of the countries experiencing the most significant shifts in public opinion, both regionally and globally.

Indonesians hold two conflicting views simultaneously. A total of 77 percent agree that social media makes the public more aware of events happening around them, and 55 percent feel it provides a more meaningful voice in political life. However, at the same time, 66 percent agree that social media facilitates the spread of misleading information intended to influence public opinion. Furthermore, 55 percent feel that social media actually deepens political divisions among citizens.

When compared to neighboring countries, the shift in perspective in Indonesia is particularly striking. In Malaysia, only 27 percent view social media as detrimental to democracy. The figure is even lower in Singapore, at 22 percent. In the Philippines and Thailand, only 23 percent and 21 percent, respectively, perceive a negative impact..

On the other hand, the percentage of people viewing social media positively remains very high in those countries: 72 percent in the Philippines, 71 percent in Thailand, 65 percent in Malaysia, and 63 percent in Singapore. This means that while Indonesia remains part of the majority that sees the positive side of social media, the decline in positive sentiment and the rise in negative views within the country are occurring much more rapidly than in neighboring nations.

Several factors explain this disparity. In Indonesia, social media has played a massive role in political events and general elections over the past few years. The spread of unverified news, divisive narratives, and misleading information frequently coincides with major events, causing citizens to feel the negative impacts more directly. In neighboring countries, although similar challenges exist, the shift in public opinion has not been as rapid as it has been in Indonesia.

Younger Indonesians tend to view the situation more positively than older age groups. This suggests that daily experiences with social media help shape an individual’s perspective. For the generation that grew up with social media, the platform feels more like a space for participation. In contrast, for older individuals, the rapidly shifting—and sometimes uncontrollable—atmosphere feels more concerning.

This implies that while the benefits of information openness are still widely felt in Indonesia, the risks of division and misinformation now seem more tangible than before. This shift serves as a warning sign that a healthy public sphere cannot be maintained on its own.

Younger Indonesians tend to view the situation more positively than older age groups. This suggests that daily experiences with social media help shape an individual’s perspective. For the generation that grew up with social media, the platform feels more like a space for participation. In contrast, for older individuals, the rapidly shifting—and sometimes uncontrollable—atmosphere feels more concerning.

This implies that while the benefits of information openness are still widely felt in Indonesia, the risks of division and misinformation now seem more tangible than before. This shift serves as a warning sign that a healthy public sphere cannot be maintained on its own.

SOURCE : CNBC INDONESIA