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Social Media

Topic Spotlight

  • Most-Used Platforms: YouTube (85%) and Facebook (70%) are the most widely used online platforms among U.S. adults. (Read the fact sheet)
  • News on Social Media: Just over half of U.S. adults (54%) say they at least sometimes get news from social media. (Read the fact sheet)
  • Teens & Social Media: Many teens are on social media daily – if not constantly – but daily use varies by platform. (Read the fact sheet)

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  • short reads

    Teens and Social Networks

    More than nine-in-ten teens (93%) who use social media have an account on Facebook, making it the dominant social media site in this age demographic.

  • report

    The Tablet Revolution

    Key findings from a survey report on tablet news consumption by the Project for Excellence in collaboration with the Economist Group.

  • presentation

    Libraries and learning communities (video & slides)

    Director Lee Rainie gave a keynote address at the Internet Librarian conference that examined the potential role librarians can play in “learning communities” – both physical and virtual. Includes video and slides.

  • presentation

    Older Adults and Social Media

    Mary will present the Pew Internet Project’s latest data on social media participation among older American adults, including new findings about user motivations and the role of mobile devices.

  • report

    iPhone Rumors Ignite the Social Media

    The recently announced iPhone 4S triggered huge anticipation online last week, with many tech bloggers expecting an iPhone 5 instead. Changes to social networks Facebook and Google+ also fueled the online conversation. And the protests on Wall Street were among the top subjects on YouTube and Twitter.

  • presentation

    Social Media and Civic Life

    Director Lee Rainie presented findings from Pew Internet about the role of the internet, cell phones, and social media on civic life.

  • report

    Social Media Discuss Tech Changes

    In social media last week, it was new tech entrants versus familiar tech services—and both bloggers and Twitterers gave much better marks to the new entrants. The iPhone and Google+ received praise while changes to Facebook and Netflix were roundly criticized. And on YouTube, millions viewed a tragic crash at an air show.

  • report

    How People Learn About Their Local Community

    How do people get news and information about the community where they live? Traditional research has suggested that Americans watch local TV news more than any other local information source. But a new report by the PEJ and the Pew Internet and American Life Project, in association with the Knight Foundation offers a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem of community information.

  • report

    How people learn about their local community

    Citizens’ media habits are surprisingly varied as newspapers, TV, the internet, newsletters, and old-fashioned word-of-mouth compete for attention. Different platforms serve different audience needs.