Trust in government is collapsing, especially in democracies, according to a new global survey.
Why it matters: People also don’t think media or business leaders are telling them the truth, and this suspicion of multiple societal institutions is pushing people into smaller, more insular circles of trust.
Details: Government leaders and journalists are considered the least trustworthy societal leaders, according to Edelman’s new 2022 global “Trust Barometer,” a survey of 35,000 respondents across 28 countries.
- A majority of people globally believe journalists (67%), government leaders (66%) and business executives (63%) are “purposely trying to mislead people by saying things they know are false or gross exaggerations.”
- Around the world, people fear the media is becoming more sensational for commercial gain and that government leaders continue to exploit divisions for political gain.