The Internet is viewed as an important information source, yet many Internet users do not trust the information they find online.
The level of trust in the Internet differs depending on the type of site the information comes from, such as a government website, a search engine, or a social networking site.
How much of the information found on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus do people consider to be generally reliable and accurate? In 2009, 48.2 percent of regular Internet users believed that only a small portion of information found on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus was accurate. This number decreased in 2010 and 2012 to 45.1 percent and 39.9 percent, respectively.
Similarly, the percentage of people who thought that none of the information was reliable or accurate decreased from 7.6 percent in 2009 to 3.6 percent in 2012.
On the other hand, the percentage of respondents who believed that “about half” of the information was accurate and reliable rose from 29.5 percent in 2009 to 40.5 percent in 2012. The percentage that answered that “most of it” was accurate increased from 13.1 percent in 2009 to 15 percent in 2012.
In general, the level of trust increased during those three years.
__________
How much of the information on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus is generally reliable and accurate?
(Internet users who visit Websites regularly)
Prepared by Erin Kim.
For the full report of the 2012 findings, visit here.
Visit the Web Insight Archive.