Black People, Younger Users, Democrats More Likely to Turn to Social Platforms for Activism

Pew Research Center examined how race, ethnicity, age and political affiliation impacts activism on social media among adults in the U.S. The nonpartisan think tank surveyed 4,708 U.S. adults between June 16 and 22, and it found that over the one month prior to the survey, 36% had used social media platforms to post images showing support for a cause, while 35% did so to look up information about rallies or protests occurring in their areas and 32% took to social sites to encourage others to take action. Just 18% of respondents used hashtags related to political or social issues. Pew found that Hispanic (46%) and Black (45%) social media users were far more likely than white (29%) social media users to say they looked up information about protests and rallies in their areas via social networking sites, but Black respondents stood out more in other areas. According to Pew, 48% of Black social media users posted pictures to show their support for a cause, compared with 37% of Hispanic users and 33% of whites. The figures were similar when it came to encouraging others to take action, with 45% of Black respondents saying they did so via social networks, versus 33% of Hispanics and 30% of whites. Usage of hashtags related to political and social issues followed the same pattern: 33% for Black people, 22% for Hispanics and just 15% for whites. Younger respondents were more likely to have turned to social sites for information about rallies or protests in their areas, with Pew finding that 54% of respondents 18 through 29 did so, versus 36% of those 30 through 49, 26% of respondents 50 through 64 and 20% of those 65 and up. Hashtag usage drew similar results, while Pew said the age gaps were not as dramatic when it came to posting pictures to show support for causes. Pew also found that racial differences were present within younger groups, as 55% of Black respondents 18 through 49 posted pictures to show support for causes, compared with 37% of Hispanics in that age group and 36% of whites. For hashtag usage related to political or social issues, 44% of Black respondents under 50 had done so, compared with 23% of Hispanics and 22% of whites. Looking at the results by political party, the think tank said roughly four out of 10 Democrats or respondents who lean Democratic posted pictures to support a cause, searched for information on rallies or protests via social networks or encouraged others to take action, while only about three out of 10 Republicans or Republican-leaners did so. Pew added that Democrats were more than twice as likely to have used hashtags related to political or social issues than Republicans, at 25% and 10%, respectively. The think tank also asked the group of U.S. adults how important social networking sites were as venues for their political activities, and 45% of overall respondents said they were very or somewhat important to them personally while searching for people who share their views on important issues, while 44% said the same for getting involved and political and social issues and 40% for giving them a venue to express their political opinions. Black and Hispanic respondents were far more likely than whites to say social networking sites were very or somewhat important to them for finding other people who shared their views, at 60%, 57% and 39%, respectively. By political affiliation, Democrats placed more importance on social platforms than Republicans did in terms of getting involved with issues that were important to them (55% versus 32%), finding others who shared their views (54% compared with 36%) and giving them a venue to express their political opinions (47% versus 33%). By age, 58% of respondents 18 through 29 said social media was very or somewhat important when getting involved with political and social issues that were important to them, compared with 43% of those 30 through 49 and 37% of respondents 50 and older. Finding others who shared their views followed a similar pattern: 59% of those 18 through 29 said social networking sites were at least somewhat important to them for this purpose, versus 45% of those 30 through 49 and 37% of respondent 50 and up. [kickout id="1"] Finally, Pew compared the results with those in a similar survey it conducted in 2018, writing, “Overall, the levels of personal importance that social media users place on these platforms for political engagement are fairly consistent with the last time the Center asked these questions, in a 2018 survey. For example, 43% of social media users said then that these sites were somewhat or very important to them personally for finding others who share their views about important topics, about on par with the 45% of social media users today who say the same. There is also little or no difference in the level of importance that users place on getting involved with social and political issues that are important to them and using social media as a venue to share their political opinions.” The think tank outlined where shifts have occurred from 2018 through the current survey: Social media users 18 through 29 who said those platforms are at least somewhat important to them for finding people with like-minded views rose to 59% in 2020 from 47% in 2018, and there were also double-digit jumps among this age group in getting involved with political or social issues, and having a venue to express their political opinions. Roughly 44% of Democrats said in 2018 that they found social networking sites to be at least somewhat important for getting involved with political issues, and that number climbed to 55% in 2020. Similar increases occurred for findings others with like-minded views and expressing opinions. Hispanic respondents who found social sites at least somewhat important for finding people who shared their views rose to 57% in 2020 from 47% in 2018, while Hispanics were also more likely to describe social networks as important to them for getting involved in social and political issues they cared about. Pew wrote, “From global protests against racial injustice to the 2020 election, some Americans who use social media are taking to these platforms to mobilize others and show their support for causes or issues. But experiences and attitudes related to political activities on social media vary by race and ethnicity, age and party.”