During the last two months, social media activity related to Black Lives Matter protests and other political and social issues have skyrocketed. More and more US citizens are using social media platforms to express their opinion on important political and social issues. The US has one of the highest social network penetration rates across the globe as more than 70% of Americans hold a social media account. The number of social media users in the United States is forecast to increase to nearly 257 million by the year 2023.
However, a new survey reveals that those who use social platforms for political issues vary by demographic. The Pew Research Center conducted a survey of US adults between June 16 and June 22 of this year. According to the survey, Black and Hispanic United States adults use social media platforms more for social and political issues as compared to white US adults. The respondents were asked which aspect of social media is important to them.
60% of Black Americans and 57% of Hispanic Americans stated that using social media to find other individuals that share their views about political issues is important to them. In comparison, only 39% of white US adults think that this feature is important. Similar racial gaps were found when respondents were asked about the importance of social media platforms for getting involved with political and social issues they care about or giving them a venue to express their opinions on political issues.
The survey also discovered that young Americans have drastically increased their use of social media platforms on political issues during the past two years. 54% of social media users aged between 18 and 29 years stated that have used social media platforms to look for information related to protests or rallies happening in their area.
Moreover, 59% of respondents to the survey aged between 18 and 29 years said that using social media platforms to get involved in social and political issues is important. In comparison, back in the year 2018, 47% of Americans aged between 18 and 29 years said that using social media to get involved in political issues is important.
Those Americans who are 50 years or older are using social media platforms less for political and social issues. 37% of them said that they interact with posts related to political issues on social media platforms, while 41% of them stated the same back in the year 2018.
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However, a new survey reveals that those who use social platforms for political issues vary by demographic. The Pew Research Center conducted a survey of US adults between June 16 and June 22 of this year. According to the survey, Black and Hispanic United States adults use social media platforms more for social and political issues as compared to white US adults. The respondents were asked which aspect of social media is important to them.
60% of Black Americans and 57% of Hispanic Americans stated that using social media to find other individuals that share their views about political issues is important to them. In comparison, only 39% of white US adults think that this feature is important. Similar racial gaps were found when respondents were asked about the importance of social media platforms for getting involved with political and social issues they care about or giving them a venue to express their opinions on political issues.
The survey also discovered that young Americans have drastically increased their use of social media platforms on political issues during the past two years. 54% of social media users aged between 18 and 29 years stated that have used social media platforms to look for information related to protests or rallies happening in their area.
Moreover, 59% of respondents to the survey aged between 18 and 29 years said that using social media platforms to get involved in social and political issues is important. In comparison, back in the year 2018, 47% of Americans aged between 18 and 29 years said that using social media to get involved in political issues is important.
Those Americans who are 50 years or older are using social media platforms less for political and social issues. 37% of them said that they interact with posts related to political issues on social media platforms, while 41% of them stated the same back in the year 2018.
Read next: The Global State Of Facial Recognition (infographic)
