Information on the Internet: is it reliable?

The World Internet Project countries and regions reported wide contrasts in views about the reliability of information found online. While large percentages of users report that most information online is generally reliable, surprisingly high percentages of users said that only half or less of the information online is reliable. Among all places, the highest proportion of those who are skeptical of the information online is from Macao.

In the 10 WIP countries and regions that reported on this question of Internet reliability, 40 percent or more of users said that one-half or less of information on the Internet is reliable.

Countries and regions in which a majority of respondents said that about half, a small portion, or none of the information online is reliable were: Macao (73%), urban China (70 percent), Sweden (64 percent), Canada (62 percent), Australia (60 percent), Israel (58 percent), Colombia (52 percent), the United States (52 percent), and New Zealand (51 percent).

In contrast, more than 40 percent of users in six of the WIP countries and regions say that most or all of online information is reliable. In the following countries and regions, high percentages of respondents said that most or all information online is reliable: the Czech Republic (54 percent), New Zealand (49 percent), and Colombia and the United States (48 percent).