Seventy-seven percent of people in Germany see social media as a tool for political influence, yet few want to or feel able to give it up. This tension runs through the findings of our new study. Awareness of the power of major platforms is high, but for many people, those platforms have become part of everyday life.

For the study, we worked with Pollytix and Agora Digitale Transformation to survey people in Germany between December 2025 and February 2026 about their views of major social media platforms. The findings paint a clear picture: platforms are increasingly seen as political actors, while many people feel they have little choice but to rely on them.

Social media platforms have become political actors

The study shows that people no longer see social media simply as a place to connect and exchange views. Seventy-seven percent of respondents regard platforms as a tool for political influence. At the same time, 71 percent worry that major platform companies have too much influence over public opinion. Despite these concerns, few want to or feel able to stop using social media altogether. For many, it has become an indispensable part of daily life.

People are aware of the risks

Most respondents recognise the risks associated with social media, including disinformation, hate speech and data privacy problems. Even so, 73 percent say they have come to accept these issues and continue to use the platforms regularly. The findings suggest that the problem lies less in a lack of awareness than in society’s heavy reliance on digital platforms.

Expectations of policymakers and platforms are clear

People see the main responsibility for addressing platform power as resting with the platform companies themselves and with political institutions. A majority want existing rules to be enforced more consistently. Eighty-five percent of respondents support higher fines for platforms that break the law. In cases of repeated violations, many favour stronger measures, including bans or blocks on platforms.

Digital sovereignty is gaining importance

The study also shows that platform policy is increasingly understood as a matter of democratic and digital sovereignty. Seventy-eight percent of respondents want Germany and the European Union to take a more assertive approach towards major technology companies. At the same time, 71 percent consider European alternatives to the major platforms important. People thus expect Europe to reduce its digital dependencies and strengthen its own trustworthy services.

Between regulation and everyday life

The findings do not point to a general lack of support for regulation. Rather, people expect existing laws to be enforced effectively and platform companies to meet their responsibilities. The debate over platform power is therefore increasingly becoming a question of whether democratic institutions can act effectively.

Awareness of the power of major platforms is high. Yet social media is so deeply embedded in many people’s daily lives that giving it up hardly seems realistic. Platform policy in the coming years will have to address this tension. Much will depend on how consistently policymakers and regulators apply existing rules while creating conditions that support trust, digital sovereignty and innovation

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