Politics Online

61% of U.S. adults say they have heard at least a fair amount about the phrase “cancel culture,” up from 44% in September 2020.

44% of Americans think major technology companies should be regulated more than they are now, down from 56% in April 2021.

23% of U.S. adults say they use Twitter. The share of Americans who use the platform has remained consistent over the past several years.

64% of members of Congress mentioned Black History Month on Facebook or Twitter in February 2021, up from just 29% in 2015.

Americans who hold less consistently liberal or conservative views tend to be less engaged in national politics.

Many experts say public online spaces will significantly improve by 2035 if reformers, big technology firms, governments and activists tackle the problems created by misinformation, disinformation and toxic discourse. Others expect continuing troubles as digital tools and forums are used to exploit people’s frailties, stoke their rage and drive them apart.

Fully 70% of U.S. adult Twitter news consumers say they have used Twitter to follow live news events, up from 59% who said this in 2015.

A minority of Twitter users produce a majority of tweets from U.S. adults, and the most active tweeters are less likely to view the tone or civility of discussions as a major problem on the site.

The 2020 election featured dramatic increases in lawmaker posts and audience engagement, but less overlap in the sources shared by members of each party.

Here’s a look at how adults in the United States see cancel culture, political correctness and related issues, based on the Center’s surveys.