The Metamorphosis Foundation for Internet and Society, based in Skopje, published a report examining the exposure of citizens in the Republic of North Macedonia to disinformation and its impact in 2025.
The study, The Effect of Disinformation and Foreign Influences on Democratic Processes in North Macedonia in 2025, combines an analysis of prevalent disinformation narratives with a public opinion survey carried out on a nationally representative sample. Building on the previous surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023, the report outlines trends and provides recommendations for tackling disinformation at both structural and societal levels.
Summary of Key Findings (Excerpt)
“Despite numerous activities aimed at increasing media literacy and debunking disinformation in the media, citizens remain highly susceptible to disinformation and conspiracy theories. 65% of citizens believe in the existence of a “secret group that controls world events” (71% in 2022), 37% believe in the “chemtrails” conspiracy theory which purports that “the white trails from airplanes in the sky are evidence that we are being sprayed with poisons” (39% in 2023), while a high 66% believe that COVID-19 was created intentionally – a percentage identical to that recorded in 2022.
The most concerning trend is the decline in belief in the existence of climate change (from 52% in 2022 to 41% in 2025), indicating growing climate skepticism and the need for systemic communication of scientifically grounded information.
The only positive trend is the decrease in belief in anti-vaccination narratives. In 2023, 39% of citizens believed that diseases can be overcome without vaccination, while in 2025 that percentage declined to 33%.
Susceptibility to pro-Russian disinformation narratives remains almost unchanged. The most illustrative example is the claim that “there are American biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine” – a narrative that has circulated for years in regional media and social networks and is believed by 39% of citizens, both in 2023 and in 2025.
Although the majority of citizens do not justify Russia’s military actions in Ukraine (43% in 2023 and 44% in 2025), support for introducing sanctions against Russia has decreased (in 2023, 42% were against introducing sanctions, while in 2025 that percentage increased to 45%). At the same time, support for Ukraine is moderately increasing (in 2023, 34% believed that the country should support Ukrainian sovereignty and independence, while in 2025 that percentage increased to 39%).
However, citizens’ awareness of the presence of pro-Russian influences in the country is growing. In 2023, 17% of citizens believed that there were sources and entities in the country that promote Russian interests; in 2025 this percentage increased to 29%.
The research records a significant change in citizens’ geopolitical attitudes. In 2023, 35% of citizens favored alliance with Russia, compared with 26% favoring alliance with the United States and the European Union. In 2025, 43% of citizens support orientation toward the United States and the European Union, while only 22% support alliance with Russia.”