How Americans Navigate Politics on TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram
A Pew Research Center survey reveals how political engagement varies across social media platforms in the U.S., finding that X is the most popular for political content. While many users encounter politics, sharing it remains low. Public opinion on platforms’ impacts on democracy shows growing concern, especially for Facebook. Issues of harassment and free speech are prevalent, complicating user experiences.
A recent survey by the Pew Research Center shines light on how Americans engage with politics through social media platforms like TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, revealing some interesting insights. Conducted between March 18 and 24, 2024, with over 10,000 adult internet users, the study aims to understand the political content users encounter and the implications for democracy as we approach the 2024 presidential elections.
The findings highlight that X users particularly utilise the platform for political updates, with 59% citing this as a reason for their usage. This contrasts notably with just 36% of TikTok users. While all platforms have users who encounter political content, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram primarily serve different interests, such as entertainment and social connections. For instance, a staggering 95% of TikTok users say they flock to the app for entertainment.
Political content sees varying levels of engagement across platforms. Approximately 74% of X users regularly come across political material, while smaller percentages, like 52% on Facebook and 36% on Instagram, do the same. However, sharing political content is less common, with only 14% of X users posting political content. Similarly, other platforms show low sharing rates.
When it comes to perceptions about democracy, opinions on X seem to have warmed up a bit. Currently, 38% of users consider X to be mostly good for democracy, a slight improvement compared to previous years. Republican users have shifted significantly, with 53% now viewing X positively, up from just 17% three years ago. Meanwhile, Democratic users show increasing scepticism, with 39% believing X is detrimental to democracy.
Investigating platforms like Instagram and TikTok for the first time, the majority of users on these platforms remain indifferent, seeing little to no impact on democracy from their usage. Interestingly, both TikTok and Instagram users lean slightly toward positive impressions regarding their political content.
The report reveals stark differences in how users opt to engage with political content across platforms. Notably, many users feel that political posts shouldn’t belong on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, while others cite harassment worries as a deterrent. About 67% on Facebook and 60% on Instagram to say politics doesn’t belong there.
As debates about free speech rage on, users feel relatively secure expressing their political views, especially on X and TikTok, with nine out of ten users affirming this. However, harassment remains a pressing concern, particularly on Facebook, as around 80% perceive it as a problem, and many report experiences related to their political views.
Overall, this report from the Pew-Knight Initiative elucidates the myriad ways that Americans experience politics on social media, underscoring the challenges and complexities that lie ahead as the 2024 elections approach.
Original Source: www.pewresearch.org
