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.
