TOKYO: Nearly one in four people trust information posted on social media, according to a nationwide public opinion poll jointly conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and Waseda University’s Institute for Advanced Social Sciences.

The survey asked people how much they trust information on political, social and other events obtained from social media platforms such as YouTube and X.

A total of 24% of respondents said they trust such information, including those who said they do so to some extent. A combined 74% said they do not trust such information, including those who do not trust it very much.

By age bracket, the proportion of respondents who trust social media information was higher among younger people, standing at 38% for those aged 18 to 39, compared with 28% for those aged 40 to 59 and 14% for those aged 60 and older.

The survey also asked whether people agreed or disagreed with specific viewpoints to gauge how widely extreme views on politics and society shared on social media have been accepted among public.

A total of 11% agreed with the view that the government can issue as many deficit-covering bonds as it needs because Japan’s public finances will not collapse.

The figure stood at 8% among respondents who distrust social media information, but jumped to 23% for those who trust it, about double the overall average.

Furthermore, 12% of all respondents agreed that reducing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane is unnecessary to address global warming. The proportion climbed to 22% among those who trust social media information, exceeding the overall average.

Split on China policy

The survey asked respondents to choose the option that best reflected their view regarding Japan’s diplomatic stance toward China.

The results showed a clear divide, with 49% supporting a moderate posture so as not to affect economic relations, while 48% backed a hardline stance even at the expense of economic ties.

China has intensified its pressure on Japan following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks in the Diet in November last year, in which she referred to a possible contingency involving Taiwan.

Among respondents who support the Takaichi Cabinet, those favoring a hardline stance toward China outnumbered those backing a moderate approach by 53% to 44%. Among non-supporters, 57% preferred a moderate stance and 40% favored a hardline approach.

According to the survey, 69% of people believe government economic assistance to emerging and developing nations serves Japan’s national interests, far outstripping the 27% who said they do not think it does.

The proportion of respondents who believe such assistance serves the national interest was higher among older generations, reaching 74% among those aged 60 and older, 68% among those aged 40 to 59, and 58% among those aged 18 to 39.