By Maricel Del Sol*
The Trust Barometer, the 26th annual worldwide survey about the level of trust that people place on various means of communications, as well as on government and private institutions, is published by the New York City-based global public relations firm Edelman.
The results and data from this year’s study will help us to better understand the forces driving communications and key trends across media and nations, including how some nations view generative AI tools.
In addition, the study found that four out of 10 respondents distrusted generative AI. This distrust stems from several factors: fear of job losses, concerns about the exposure of personal data, and the belief that the proliferation of data centers will further damage the environment. For example, respondents in Brazil, China, and Germany expressed optimism, while folks in the U.K. and U.S. were pessimistic about the implementation of AI.
The Edelman report also revealed that over the past five years, people have placed greater trust in personal connections, such as coworkers or their own CEOs, while losing faith in government leaders, mainstream media, and foreign business leaders. In fact, the majority of the 28 nations surveyed displayed an insular mindset toward others, with a striking 70 percent stating that they were hesitant or unwilling to trust someone different from themselves.
Other key findings from the study specifically regarding the situation in Latin America include:
*In Latin America, three out of four people exhibit an insular mindset.
*74 percent of respondents said they were hesitant or unwilling to trust someone who is different.
*Few in the region believe the next generation will be better off. Mexico recorded the most significant decline, with a nine-point drop in optimism.
*Fears that foreign actors are spreading disinformation to sow internal division have reached historic highs in Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina.
*The region has shifted from “Us” to “Me.” Shared institutions are losing ground, while local circles are gaining it.
*Regarding trust in social media, 48 percent of respondents said that they trust food and lifestyle influencers, while 44 percent said they trust financial influencers.
The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer surveyed 33,938 people across 28 countries. The trust index represents the average level of trust in business, government, media, and non-governmental organizations.
*Maricel Del Sol is the founding director of the Miami, Florida-based MDS Editorial Services, a corporate communications agency specializing in audiovisual media.
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