Americans think social media can help build movements, but can also be a distraction
80% of Americans say social media platforms are very or somewhat effective for raising public awareness about political or social issues.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
80% of Americans say social media platforms are very or somewhat effective for raising public awareness about political or social issues.
73% of Americans express little or no confidence in tech companies to prevent the misuse of their platforms to influence the 2020 election.
Many social media users in the United States are exhausted by how much political content they see on these platforms.
Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to say major tech companies favor the views of liberals over conservatives. At the same time, partisans differ on whether social media companies should flag inaccurate information on their platforms.
52% of US adults say it is very or somewhat important that companies and organizations make public statements about political or social issues.
Two-thirds of parents in the U.S. say parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, with many citing technologies – like social media or smartphones – as a reason.
Roughly half of Americans think social media companies should be regulated more than they are now, our survey found.
Democratic lawmakers post more content on Twitter, while the median Republican member now averages more audience engagement than the median Democrat across platforms.
32% of U.S. social media users say they have used these sites in the past month to encourage others to take action on issues.
A majority of experts canvassed say significant reforms aimed at correcting problems in democratic institutions and representation will take place. But they are divided about whether this will lead to positive outcomes for the public.