Society Is Becoming More Insular

In 1624, the English poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself.” But today, this memorable declaration of our need for one another is now often replaced by insularity, a psychological state shaped by fears and crises. This insularity negatively impacts us on a personal, and societal, level. 

The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer finds that 70% of our 33,938 respondents across 28 nations now are hesitant or unwilling to trust someone who has different values, information sources...