Social Media Use & Democracy: New Poll Reveals Link

Americans who dedicate at least five hours daily to social media platforms are more likely to feel their voices are heard, but also exhibit greater openness to political violence and diminished support for democracy, according to a recent, large-scale poll.

Study Details & Methodology

The findings stem from a nationally representative study involving over 20,000 Americans. Conducted by Gallup and the Charles F. Kettering Foundation last summer, the research is part of their ongoing annual survey examining how Americans experience democracy. The study revealed that over 1 in 10 Americans spend at least five hours a day on social media.

Self-Selection & Pre-Existing Views

Researchers acknowledge the difficulty in determining whether social media platforms are the cause or effect of these views. Jaime Settle, an associate professor of government at William & Mary and author of “Frenemies: How Social Media Polarizes America,” suggests a self-selection bias is at play. “I think most of what we’re observing is a reflection of self-selection into who becomes a heavy social media user,” Settle stated. “A certain kind of person is opting into spending a lot of time on social media, and they may be people who are more disaffected to start with.”

Conflicting Data & Civic Engagement

The poll presents a complex picture. Heavy social media users are more likely to believe others value their opinions and view protesting, donating, and attending town halls as effective means of influencing government – more so than those who don’t use social media. However, these same users are significantly less likely to believe democracy is the best form of government.

Declining Support for Democratic Principles

Only 57 percent of heavy social media users agreed with the statement that democracy is the best form of government, compared to 73 percent of those who use social media for an hour or less daily. The survey also found that heavy users are more open to political violence and less inclined towards compromise.

Potential for Reinforcement of Extreme Beliefs

Derek Barker, senior program manager for research at the Kettering Foundation, theorized that social media may reinforce existing tendencies. “What I would be concerned about is whether social media might be reinforcing the tendency to associate with like-minded people who are reinforcing these more extreme beliefs,” Barker explained. Heavy users also reported difficulty interacting with those holding differing beliefs and were less likely to support universal voting rights.

Platform Response & Alternative Perspectives

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, did not respond to requests for comment. However, the company has previously cited peer-reviewed studies suggesting social media’s impact on polarization may be less significant than perceived. Brendan Nyhan, a professor at Dartmouth College, noted the Gallup findings present “an interesting hypothesis to test,” but emphasized a lack of conclusive evidence establishing a causal link between social media and distrust in democracy.

Experiments & Limited Impact

Nyhan’s research, including experiments during the 2020 elections involving user disengagement and content restriction, did not demonstrate significant changes in voters’ beliefs or actions.

Looking Ahead & Further Research

Researchers at Gallup and Kettering emphasize the need for further investigation. While they acknowledge a correlation, they refrain from assigning a direct causal relationship. “What we have are a series of relationships that are at least raising concerns about social media use and democracy,” Barker said. “Our idea is to present the issue, highlight these relationships and start a conversation about what solutions might look like.”