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Social Media

short readFeb 28, 2025

Here are five key findings about YouTube from our research to mark its 20th anniversary.

short readFeb 19, 2025

In an open-ended question, we asked U.S. adults who say they regularly get news from news influencers to name the first one who comes to mind for them.

short readFeb 18, 2025

Influencers make a social media video about Sponge Cake the cat in New York City's Times Square on Jan. 19, 2025. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)

On TikTok, Americans often follow people who have a strong social media presence. These creator accounts make up about half of all accounts that U.S. users follow.

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reportMar 13, 2014

Social, Search and Direct

Direct visitors to 26 top news sites—those who type in the news outlet’s URL or have the address bookmarked—are far more engaged with that news than users who arrive from Facebook or a search engine, according to a new analysis of online traffic data.
reportMar 6, 2014

Media Coverage of Pope Francis’ First Year

One year into Francis’ papacy, an analysis by the Pew Research Center finds that the former Jesuit archbishop – who was named Time’s Person of the Year – ranked among the top global newsmakers in major U.S.-based digital news outlets.
presentationMar 3, 2014

Cancer Communication in the Digital Age

Susannah Fox will present the latest research on social media and health at a workshop hosted by the President’s Cancer Panel at the National Cancer Institute: “Cancer Communication: In the Digital Era, Opportunities Amongst the Challenges.”
short readsFeb 27, 2014

Americans increasingly view the internet, cellphones as essential

Americans are growing more attached to modern digital technologies, such as cellphones and the internet, and less attached to traditional hardware, such as landline phones and televisions.
reportFeb 27, 2014

The Web at 25 in the U.S.

The overall verdict: The internet has been a plus for society and an especially good thing for individual users
short readsFeb 20, 2014

Q/A: How Pew Research mapped the conversations on Twitter

A conversation with Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research Internet Project, about the project’s new report on mapping Twitter conversations.
short readsFeb 20, 2014

Behind Facebook’s WhatsApp purchase: A global appetite for texting

A median of 78% of mobile phone owners in emerging countries used their devices for texting.
short readsFeb 20, 2014

The six types of Twitter conversations

Have you ever wondered what a Twitter conversation looks like from 10,000 feet?
reportFeb 13, 2014

Greater Technology Use Linked to Higher Per Capita Income

Technology usage is strongly correlated with national income across the countries surveyed. Countries with a higher GDP per capita generally have higher rates of smartphone ownership and internet and social networking use, while poorer countries tend to have lower rates of technology usage. Mouse over the countries below to reveal technology use and GDP per […]
reportFeb 11, 2014

Couples, the Internet, and Social Media

The internet, cell phones and social media have become key actors in the lives of many American couples. Technology is a source of support and communication as well as tension, and couples say it has both good and bad impacts on their relationships.