WhatsApp and Facebook dominate the social media landscape in middle-income nations
Across eight countries surveyed in Latin America, Africa and South Asia, a median of 73% of adults say they use WhatsApp and 62% say they use Facebook.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Across eight countries surveyed in Latin America, Africa and South Asia, a median of 73% of adults say they use WhatsApp and 62% say they use Facebook.
Internet use is nearly ubiquitous in Germany, but social media use is not. In fact, Germans stand out internationally for their relatively light use of social media.
In preelection tweets about the U.S., lawmakers abroad focused on how the election will affect bilateral ties and trade.
Most think social media has made it easier to manipulate and divide people, but they also say it informs and raises awareness.
Many legislators in four English-speaking countries directly addressed George Floyd’s killing and the subsequent protests on Twitter.
Although most national officials use the platform, their posts receive only a small number of likes and retweets.
United Kingdom legislators in the House of Lords and House of Commons tweeted more critical content of Trump’s recent visit to the nation.
Smartphone users in emerging economies – especially those who use social media – tend to be more exposed to people with different backgrounds and more connected with friends they don’t see in person.
Many who use social media say they regularly see false or misleading content, but also view these platforms as offering new avenues for political engagement.
As people in advanced economies reach the upper bounds of internet penetration, the digital divide continues to narrow between wealthy and developing countries.
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