U.S. social media impact on civic activities 2021

According to an August 2021 survey, almost three quarters of adults in the United States found that social media has made it easier to connect with family and friends, while 71 percent said that social media has made it easier to connect with those who share their interests or views. However, the impact of social media on civic activities was less significant, with half of respondents finding no impact on their ability to participate in politics and 74 percent finding no effect on their ability to vote.

Effect of social media on civic and social activities according to adults in the United States as of August 2021

Characteristic	Easier/much easier	Neither	Harder/much harder
Connecting with family and friends	74%	23%	3%
Connecting with people who share your interests or views	71%	26%	3%
Staying engaged with your local community	65%	32%	3%
Finding information you need	59%	31%	9%
Freely expressing yourself	43%	42%	14%
Participating in politics	35%	52%	13%
Voting	18%	74%	8%

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Release date

March 2022

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Region

United States

Survey time period

July 30 to August 26 2021

Number of respondents

10,226 respondents

Age group

18 years and older

Method of interview

Online panel

Supplementary notes

Original statement: "To what extent does social media make the following easier or harder for you..."
Due to rounding, percentages may sum to 100% ±1%.

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