Online disinformation seen as bigger threat than climate change

Author Moonshot.news

Published on: 20/08/2025

False information online is one of major global threats, according to a new survey comprising adults in 25 countries. Other top threats mentioned are the condition of the global economy and terrorism. While many remain concerned about climate change and the spread of infectious diseases, fewer view these as major threats now than did in recent years, the survey by Pew Research Center shows.

A global UNESCO survey has earlier shown that 85% of citizens are worried about the impact of disinformation. A risk report from World Economic Forum says that misinformation and disinformation can undermine the legitimacy of newly elected governments and result in unrest like violent protests, hate crime, civil confrontation and terrorism. 

The new Pew survey shows that overall, a median of 72% of adults across 25 nations say that the spread of false information online is a major threat to their country. A further 21% say it is a minor threat, while 5% say it is not a threat at all.

In seven countries – Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States and South Korea – more people view the spread of false information as a threat than any other issue asked about.

“Germans and Poles, who voted in competitive national elections within the last year, see this as the top threat by a considerable margin”, the Pew report says.

A median of 70% of adults across the countries surveyed view the condition of the global economy as a major threat. Another 27% say it’s a minor threat, and 4% say it is not a threat. 

People in two countries – Greece and Australia – view the global economy as the top threat of those included in the survey.

“The share of adults who see global economic conditions as a major threat has increased in 21 countries since 2017.”

A 25-country median of 69% of adults view terrorism as a major threat, while 26% characterise it as a minor threat and 6% say it is no threat at all. People in four countries – India, Israel, Nigeria and Turkey – see terrorism as the top threat of the five issues asked about.

“In Israel, concerns about terrorism especially outweigh concerns about the other issues. And Jewish Israelis are far more likely than Arab Israelis to see terrorism as a major threat to their country (96% vs. 61%). The survey was fielded about a year and a half after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.”

A median of 67% of adults across the nations surveyed see global climate change as a major threat. Another 24% say it is a minor threat, and 9% say it is no threat. In no survey country is climate change the single greatest perceived threat.

“On balance, however, concerns about climate change are higher than in 2013, both in advanced economies and middle-income countries. The share of people who view it as a major threat has increased sizably in France (+24 percentage points since 2013), Turkey (+23), Mexico (+22), the UK (+18), Kenya (+15), Nigeria (+13), Israel (+12), Australia (+11), the U.S. (+11), Germany (+11) and Poland (+10).” 

“Just a few years after the COVID-19 pandemic, a median of 60% adults across the countries surveyed view the spread of infectious diseases as a major threat. Another 30% see it as a minor threat, and 5% say it is no threat at all.

In three countries – Argentina, Brazil and South Africa – disease is seen as the top threat of the five issues asked about. And around eight-in-ten adults or more view it as a major threat in Kenya (88%), Turkiye (87%), Indonesia (86%) and Mexico (82%).