64% of Americans say social media have a mostly negative effect on the way things are going in the U.S. today
Just one-in-ten Americans say social media sites have a mostly positive effect on the way things are going in the U.S. today.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Just one-in-ten Americans say social media sites have a mostly positive effect on the way things are going in the U.S. today.
Majorities of adults say they would be open to participating in some parts of the process of identifying and isolating coronavirus victims, but others are reluctant to engage fully with public health authorities.
The more confident people are that members of powerful groups behave unethically, the less likely they are to have confidence in that group’s performance.
The tech landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade, both in the United States and around the world.
Some 44% of liberal Democrats say they have used social media in the past year to encourage others to take action on an issue that was important to them. A similar share (43%) have taken part in a group that shares their interest in a cause.
Many experts say digital life will continue to expand people’s boundaries and opportunities. Yet nearly a third think that people’s overall well-being will be more harmed than helped in coming years.
The trends in Americans’ views of social media tell a complex story. Read about the dynamics of Americans’ feelings toward social media.
Read a Q&A with Maeve Duggan, Pew Research Center research associate, on our survey examining online harassment in the United States.
Experts are split on whether the coming years will see less misinformation online. Those who foresee improvement hope for technological and societal solutions. Others say bad actors using technology can exploit human vulnerabilities.
Roughly four-in-ten Americans have personally experienced online harassment, and 62% consider it a major problem.
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