Pew Research Center vs The Trust Project

Global Social Media Skepticism Grows, Pew Finds

A Pew Research Center survey across 37 countries reveals growing skepticism about social media's impact on democracy. While 55% on average still view social media positively, the share of those seeing negative effects has risen in most countries with comparable data from 2022 or 2023. Skepticism is particularly pronounced in wealthy Western nations: 70% in the Netherlands, 65% in France, 64% in the US, and 61% in Germany now view social media as harmful to democracy. The survey also examined perceptions of political polarization, finding that in several countries, including Germany, concerns about social media exacerbating division have reached US-like levels. Facebook remains the most-used platform, followed by Instagram, TikTok, X, and Snapchat. The international survey involved 42,151 respondents across 36 countries, with additional US data from about 9,000 respondents.

• Pew Research Center surveyed 37 countries on social media's impact on democracy.
• On average, 55% see social media as positive for democracy, 35% as negative.
• Skepticism is highest in the Netherlands (70%), France (65%), USA (64%), and Germany (61%).

Marketing 'Nones': Tackling the Growing Direct/None Attribution Blind Spot

This article discusses the growing 'direct/none' category in web analytics, which represents visitors arriving without provenance data. It draws a parallel to the Pew Research 'Religious Nones' study, where 28% of Americans now claim no religious affiliation. The author argues that the direct/none group is not homogeneous but comprises distinct subtypes: Refusers (those who actively block tracking), Delegators (users of AI agents or aggregators), Defaulters (those affected by browser privacy defaults), and Typers (users who directly type URLs). Ignoring this category, which can represent a significant share of traffic, risks losing marketing opportunities. The article recommends marketers analyze their residual categories, identify the subtypes, and use additional attribution methods like MMM to understand and reach these users.

• Pew Research's 2024 report found that 28% of Americans now identify as religious 'nones', up from 16% in 2007.
• Only 17% of religious 'nones' are true atheists, while 69% believe in God or a higher power.
• The direct/none analytics category includes users who arrive without provenance data, often due to privacy settings or AI agents.

ShopMy, Google, WordPress Among Digiday Technology Awards Finalists

The Digiday Technology Awards has announced its 2026 finalists, showcasing the industry's focus on AI-ready infrastructure, first-party data, privacy, and operational efficiency. Notable finalists include WordPress VIP for Best CMS, recognized for its partnership with Pew Research Center to make content AI-discoverable, and ShopMy for Best E-Commerce Technology, highlighting creator-led commerce. Google is a finalist for Best Sell-Side Programmatic Platform for its work with The Guardian on privacy-compliant monetization. The awards feature numerous categories covering AI, programmatic, data, and more, reflecting a shift from adaptation to reinvention in digital media and commerce.

• Digiday Technology Awards 2026 finalists announced.
• WordPress VIP and Pew Research Center partnership for AI-readable CMS.
• ShopMy nominated for Best E-Commerce Technology.

The Trust Project and TOMO Mags Launch the News Reading Club™

The News Reading Club™ is a program to exercise our brains and strengthen our communities, a bit like a running club.