How social media use can shape your opinions

A newly published Gallup survey offers a rare look at people who don’t spend their days endlessly scrolling on social media—and how they think compared to the rest of us.

The gap is noticeable: Americans who rarely use social media are far more likely to say democracy is the best form of government compared to frequent users (72% vs. 57%).

On the flip side, heavy users are far more likely to see facts as subjective (16% vs. 9%) and to be open to political violence (22% vs. 8%).

It’s not just politics. Other studies show that social media platforms are able to subtly shape users’ opinions across nearly every topic. They do this by signaling what’s popular (via likes and shares), repeating ideas until they feel true, and creating the sense that certain views are widely held, even if they’re not.

Driving the trend: At first glance, it may seem like social media is altering people’s beliefs compared to non-users. But research suggests it’s not that simple:

• Studies have shown the vast majority of users aren’t changing their minds and forming new opinions after joining social media.
• Instead, most social media platforms actually reinforce users’ previously held beliefs—and often help push those views to the extremes.

Zoom out: An estimated 85%+ of all US adults use social media, in addition to tens of millions of minors. Overall, the average American spends ~2.25 hours/day on such platforms.