While a majority of Americans say misinformation about science has worsened, 9-in-10 Republicans and Democrats agree US should play leading role in global scientific research; only 1-in-5 believe US is leading versus China
Americans primarily point to businesses (23%) and non-profits (19%) to step in, if the government cannot fund scientific research
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 18, 2026 / The Harris Poll, a Stagwell (NASDAQ:STGW) agency, announced today the results from a landmark survey, “Science Under Siege: The Battle Between Viral Misinformation and Shared Belief in the Value of Science,” sponsored by Bayer. The survey revealed a profound “misinformation paradox” at the heart of American life: while 80% of Americans blame social media for false or misleading health and science information in the media and online, these platforms are the public’s top source for such news.
Underpinning this issue is the emergence of a “headline-only” culture, underscored by a staggering 75% of Americans who admit to having shared articles related to health and science with someone they know in the past month based on the headline alone and without reading the full article first. The same poll found that 71% of Americans say that online content creators are very or somewhat to blame for misinformation about science and health.
Misinformation around health and science could be affecting trust in credible sources like doctors and scientists, particularly among young adults. The majority of young adults ages 18-34 (51%) rely on social media as their primary source of science and health information and nearly 1-in-5 distrust doctors (16%) and scientists (20%) as sources of information on health and science. Misinformation also carries an emotional toll: 83% of all Americans report feeling angry when encountering false or misleading information about science and health and 82% worry about their own well-being or the well-being of their families.
Despite these challenges, the data confirms the need for innovation to improve lives, with the majority of Americans across the political spectrum respecting scientists and agreeing rigorous science is necessary for continued human progress – a rare bipartisan consensus in a divided world.
“This is more than just busy social feeds full of click-bait headlines when half of young adults are scrolling for their health information,” said John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll. “This growing paradox is going to have real life health impacts if a fifth of young people continue to distrust doctors and scientists as legitimate sources.”
Key findings from the report, Science Under Siege, include:
-
First, the Good News. There’s a Bipartisan Consensus on Trust in Science: Despite deep political divides, a remarkable 88% of Republicans and 92% of Democrats agree that rigorous science is necessary for continued human progress. This shared value is rooted in a deep respect for the scientific community; there is overwhelming agreement that scientists in the US today improve people’s quality of life (80% of Republicans and 90% of Democrats). Furthermore, 90% of Republicans and 92% of Democrats believe the US should play a leading role in global scientific research.
-
The Misinformation Paradox: 80% of Americans blame social media platforms for the spread of false or misleading information about science and health, and 75% are concerned about online content creators actively attacking or undermining scientific research and expertise. Yet, social media (32%) is the top primary source for health and science information, outpacing TV news (25%), newspapers/news websites/news apps (13%), AI (7%), government agencies (6%), and non-governmental organizations (2%).
-
A Generational Trust Gap: The survey found that 51% of young adults (ages 18-34) use social media as their primary source for science and health information. Nearly half of young adults blame doctors (48%) and scientists (43%) for providing false or misleading information, and about 1-in-5 distrust these traditional experts.
-
The Emotional Toll: Nearly 9-in-10 Americans (88%) are concerned with false or misleading information about science and health in the media and online. Large majorities of Americans are feeling angry (83%) and are worried about their well-being and the well-being of their families (82%) when encountering such information.
-
Anxiety Over US Science Leadership: Americans want to lead on science, but few actually believe the US is leading. Only 19% believe the US currently leads China in scientific research, while 33% believe the US is falling behind. If the government cannot fund scientific research, Americans primarily point to businesses (23%) and non-profits (19%) to step in.
“We’ve uncovered a hidden consensus,” said John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll. “Despite a fractured delivery of information, a shared belief in the value of science has rare unity across party lines.”
Ultimately, the findings of “Science Under Siege” suggest that while the impacts of misinformation are alarming, Americans remain remarkably united in their support for science and its impacts for today and the future. The data reflects clear public support for science as an essential engine for securing the nation’s future progress.
Read the full report here.
Methodology
The research was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Bayer among 2,023 US adults. The survey was conducted February 4th to 6th, 2026.
For complete research method, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please reach out to Kathy Steinberg at The Harris Poll.
About The Harris Poll
For more than 60 years, The Harris Poll has been a leader in social and market research, helping organizations navigate complexity and understand cultural change. From emerging technologies to generational values, Harris insights help leaders make data-driven decisions that build stronger brands and deeper connections.
About Stagwell
Stagwell is the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 45+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.
# # #
Media Contacts:
The Harris Poll
Kathy Steinberg
kathy.steinberg@harrispoll.com
Bayer:
Brian Leake
brian.leake@bayer.com
SOURCE: Stagwell
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
