Activism in the Social Media Age
As the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag turns 5 years old, a look at its evolution on Twitter and how Americans view social media’s impact on political and civic engagement
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
As the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag turns 5 years old, a look at its evolution on Twitter and how Americans view social media’s impact on political and civic engagement
28% of registered voters use their cell phone to follow political news, and 16% follow political figures on social media.
Teens often rely on themselves and the guidance they get from the websites they use to figure out how to manage their privacy online, but when they do seek advice, they go primarily to peers and parents.
The well-educated and the well-off are more likely than others to participate in civic life online, just as those groups have always been more likely to be active in politics and community affairs offline.
Youth are sharing more personal information on their profiles than in the past. They choose private settings for Facebook, but share with large networks of friends.
Campaign and policy-related material on SNS plays a modest role in influencing most users’ views & political activities. Democrats & liberals are the most likely to say the sites have impact and are important.
66% of social media users have employed the platforms for at least one of eight civic or political activities with social media
Registered voters on both sides of the political spectrum are using their cell phones to get campaign news, share their views about the candidates and interact with others about political issues
18% of users have shunned “friends” who have different ideas and 16% have found friends whose beliefs match their own
85% of the adults who use social media report that people are usually kind on the sites. At the same time, 49% have witnessed mean and offensive behavior and they usually respond by ignoring it.
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