Australians believe social media does more harm than good, bucking overwhelming global support for the technology, according to Ipsos' Global Trends: Understanding Asia report.
The report, designed to deep dive into the specific issues affecting the Asia Pacific region including Australia and New Zealand, leverages data from the 8th edition of Ipsos’ Global Trends report. The report is the largest public survey in its history, with 50,000 people interviewed across 50 markets.
More than half of Australians (54%) said social media did not have a positive impact on people’s lives – just 38% said it did. The figures are in direct opposition to the global data, which showed 54% of people agreeing that social media did have a positive impact on people’s lives, while 38% disagreed.
In line with this, more than half of Australians (54%) believe technical progress is destroying our lives - up from 44% in 2013. The data also shows Australians are more cynical about technology and AI development than their Asian counterparts. Across Asia, two in three people (68%) said they felt AI was having a positive impact on the world, with China most open to embracing new technology.
Ipsos Australia CEO, Simon Wake said like many countries globally, Australia is on the precipice of change, particularly as technological evolution and climate change occurs at a rapid pace.
“Now more than ever, it is important to understand how Australians are thinking and the issues that are likely to preoccupy water cooler conversation in the coming years," he said.
"The insights reveal a region that is wary of technology, particularly social media, and is cynical about new technology and its impact on mental and emotional health.
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