Americans express growing concerns over social media’s political influence, Pew survey finds

A recent Pew Research Center survey sheds light on American sentiments regarding the role of social media in politics and its broader impact on the country. According to the survey, conducted from February 7-11, 2024, most Americans are increasingly wary of social media’s political power, with concerns escalating among Democrats. The survey reveals that 78% of Americans believe social media companies hold too much political influence, up from 72% in 2020, indicating a growing skepticism toward these platforms’ role in shaping political discourse.

While the majority of Americans express concerns about social media’s political power, significant partisan divides persist. Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (84%) are more likely than Democrats and Democratic leaners (74%) to believe that social media companies wield excessive political influence. Notably, Democrats’ concerns have surged over the past four years, with 74% now expressing unease compared to 63% in 2020.

Furthermore, the survey indicates that Americans view social media’s impact on the country predominantly negatively, with 64% believing it has a mostly negative effect. Despite this perception, only 10% describe social media’s impact as mostly positive, highlighting widespread skepticism about its societal contributions.

Concerns about political bias and censorship on social media platforms are also prevalent among Americans. The survey found that 83% of adults believe it’s likely that social media sites intentionally censor political viewpoints they disagree with, up from 77% in 2022. While both Republicans and Democrats share concerns about political censorship, Republicans are more likely to perceive bias, with 93% expressing this belief compared to 74% of Democrats.

On the question of political bias within major technology companies, 44% of Americans think these companies support liberal views over conservative ones, while only 15% believe the opposite. Republicans overwhelmingly perceive a pro-liberal bias, with 71% holding this view, while Democrats are more divided, with 50% believing these companies support both conservative and liberal viewpoints equally.

Despite concerns about social media’s negative impact and political bias, Americans favor increased government regulation of major technology companies. Over half (51%) believe these companies should be regulated more than they are now, indicating a desire for greater oversight.

Democrats are generally more supportive of increased regulation compared to Republicans, with 60% advocating for more government oversight of tech companies compared to 45% of Republicans. However, these partisan differences have fluctuated over time, with both parties showing varying levels of support for regulation in previous years.