‘Love’ reaction steadily overcomes ‘anger’ as response to lawmakers’ posts on Facebook
U.S. lawmakers have received roughly 2 million more love than anger reactions to posts in the first seven months of 2020.
Americans think social media can help build movements, but can also be a distraction
80% of Americans say social media platforms are very or somewhat effective for raising public awareness about political or social issues.
Rising share of lawmakers – but few Republicans – are using the term Latinx on social media
One-quarter of United States lawmakers mentioned the term on Facebook or Twitter during the 116th Congress.
55% of U.S. social media users say they are ‘worn out’ by political posts and discussions
Many social media users in the United States are exhausted by how much political content they see on these platforms.
Most Americans Think Social Media Sites Censor Political Viewpoints
Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to say major tech companies favor the views of liberals over conservatives. At the same time, partisans differ on whether social media companies should flag inaccurate information on their platforms.
Outside U.S., Floyd’s killing and protests sparked discussion on legislators’ Twitter accounts
Many legislators in four English-speaking countries directly addressed George Floyd’s killing and the subsequent protests on Twitter.
Most Americans say social media companies have too much power, influence in politics
Roughly half of Americans think social media companies should be regulated more than they are now, our survey found.
Posts mentioning ‘Black lives matter’ spiked on lawmakers’ social media accounts after George Floyd killing
236 members (45%) of the 116th Congress have mentioned “Black lives matter” on Facebook or Twitter dating back as far as Jan. 1, 2015.
Congress Soars to New Heights on Social Media
Democratic lawmakers post more content on Twitter, while the median Republican member now averages more audience engagement than the median Democrat across platforms.
Activism on social media varies by race and ethnicity, age, political party
32% of U.S. social media users say they have used these sites in the past month to encourage others to take action on issues.
