Social Media Seen as Mostly Good for Democracy Across Many Nations, But U.S. is a Major Outlier
Most think social media has made it easier to manipulate and divide people, but they also say it informs and raises awareness.
For shopping, phones are common and influencers have become a factor – especially for young adults
Social media is an important tool for consumers, with some Americans – particularly younger adults – turning to influencer recommendations.
Share of those 65 and older who are tech users has grown in the past decade
Adoption of key technologies by those in the oldest age group has grown markedly since about a decade ago.
Some digital divides persist between rural, urban and suburban America
Rural adults are less likely than suburban adults to have home broadband and less likely than urban adults to own a smartphone, tablet or computer.
Home broadband adoption, computer ownership vary by race, ethnicity in the U.S.
Black and Hispanic Americans remain less likely than White adults to say they own a traditional computer or have high-speed internet at home.
Online harassment occurs most often on social media, but strikes in other places, too
Three-quarters of U.S. adults who have recently faced some kind of online harassment say it happened on social media.
More than eight-in-ten Americans get news from digital devices
More than eight-in-ten U.S. adults say they get news from a smartphone, computer or tablet “often” or “sometimes.”
Parenting Children in the Age of Screens
Two-thirds of parents in the U.S. say parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, with many citing technologies – like social media or smartphones – as a reason.
8 charts on internet use around the world as countries grapple with COVID-19
A median of 77% across 34 countries surveyed use the internet at least occasionally or own an internet-enabled smartphone.
In Emerging Economies, Smartphone and Social Media Users Have Broader Social Networks
Smartphone users in emerging economies – especially those who use social media – tend to be more exposed to people with different backgrounds and more connected with friends they don’t see in person.
