New research from the Pew Research Center has shed light on Americans’ growing concerns about social media’s role in politics and its impact on the country. The survey revealed that Democrats are particularly worried about these issues, with a significant increase in their concerns since 2020. The study also highlighted that Republicans stand out when it comes to measures related to political censorship and bias in Big Tech, with a majority of them believing that major technology companies display bias towards liberals.
The survey focused on three key areas: Social media’s impact on politics and the country, Political censorship and bias in Big Tech, and Government regulation of technology companies. Since 2020, there has been a noticeable rise in the number of Americans who believe that social media companies have too much political power, especially among Democrats. The survey conducted among 10,133 U.S. adults in February 2024 found that roughly 78% of Americans feel that these companies have too much power and influence in politics, up from 72% in 2020. Only 16% believe that social media companies have the right amount of political influence, while just 4% believe they do not have enough power.
These findings highlight the growing concerns about the influence of social media on politics and the country. Democrats are increasingly worried about how much power these companies hold, while Republicans are more likely to perceive bias towards liberals in major technology companies. As these concerns and perceptions continue to shape public opinion and policy discourse around tech regulation, it will be interesting to see how they will impact the future of social media and technology regulation in the United States.