Signal Edelman 2026 Trust Barometer: 70% Distrust Those with Different Values — "Insular Trust Mindset"

Summary

Edelman's 2026 Trust Barometer, published 4 March 2026, found that seven in ten people are hesitant or unwilling to trust those who differ from them in values, beliefs or background, a pattern Edelman terms an insular trust mindset. Only 32% globally believe the next generation will be better off than today, and job fears tied to recession and trade have reached record levels amid high economic anxiety across surveyed markets. The report documents a shift from large platforms and celebrity creators toward smaller, values-aligned communities; Sara Rezaee, Edelman's Head of Creator Marketing for North America, said, "People aren't saying, I trust this person because they have two million followers. They're saying, I trust that creator with twelve thousand followers who shares my values," and separately observed, "People are less after truth. They want their truth." The report frames trust brokering — facilitating understanding across differences rather than erasing them — as one of the most effective actions during divisive moments.