Platforms & Services

In April 2021, we followed up with many of the same parents surveyed in March 2020 on their children’s use of technology and social media.

Public views are tied to how these technologies would be used and what constraints would be in place.

Roughly half of American adults who use Twitter (49%) post fewer than five tweets per month; 59% of infrequent tweeters are ages 30 to 49.

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

Asked to "imagine a better world online," experts hope for a ubiquitous – even immersive – digital environment that promotes fact-based knowledge, offers better defense of individuals’ rights, empowers diverse voices and provides tools for technology breakthroughs and collaborations to solve the world’s wicked problems.

Adoption of key technologies by those in the oldest age group has grown markedly since about a decade ago.

75% of U.S. adults say they have read a book in the past 12 months in any format, a figure that has remained largely unchanged since 2011.

The declining public trust in the news media and polarization of news audiences have profound effects on civic life.

Here is how the average adult Twitter user in the U.S. tweeted about the news in 2021, as well as how these patterns have changed since 2015.

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.