Digital and social media platforms were once heralded by their creators and users alike as tools to foster greater human connection in an increasingly digital world. Yet, they now play a significant role in accelerating political polarization and violence, raising questions about the power and influence of Big Tech in the United States’ political ecosystem. As the recent spate of incidents in which they have advanced misinformation or incited violence illustrate, the potential for these digital and social media platforms to foster division has exacerbated distrust in their role in American democracy.
The past two presidential elections have created a growing sense of discomfort and tension with social media platforms as sources of political news and information. During the 2016 election, efforts by foreign actors to foster misinformation and sow division on social media platforms raised concerns over whether Big Tech wielded undue influence on society. In the 2020 election cycle, recognizing the enormous role that these platforms held in the political ecosystem, candidates increasingly called for greater transparency and accountability for Big Tech companies. This discourse continued to intensify as disinformation and hate speech blossomed on these social media platforms, even escalating mob violence during the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021. In the wake of this tragic event, a range of stakeholders across the political spectrum united in their rebuke of these platforms. In particular, young people have been some of the most vocal skeptics of the role digital and social media platforms play in America’s political system.
For more than two decades, Harvard undergraduates at the Institute of Politics have conducted the biannual Harvard Youth Poll to better understand the political beliefs of young Americans. The results of the Spring 2021 survey include data collected from over 2,500 Americans between the age of 18 and 29 regarding a litany of issues about the role of Big Tech companies and digital and social media platforms in politics. Through this analysis, the HPR sought to better understand the perspective of young voters regarding the current role that these companies and platforms play in shaping the political ecosystem and, particularly in light of recent events, what role they should play moving forward.
Where young people are getting their information
To contextualize young people’s attitudes towards digital and social media platforms, it is first important to understand where youth receive their information. Nearly three in four respondents regularly receive political information from digital sources, including social media platforms, cable television networks, and podcasts. Among social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter dominate, with over 30% of survey respondents using Facebook to stay updated on current events, while Instagram (27%) and Twitter (22%) were the next-most popular sources of news among social media platforms. Other social media platforms like Snapchat and TikTok account for a smaller share of where youth receive their news.
Traditional media sources, such as cable television, also play an important role in how youth consume information. Among major news networks, CNN remains the most popular news media source, with 27% of respondents referencing it for news content; meanwhile, only 18% and 13% are regular Fox News and MSNBC viewers, respectively. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, local television appears to remain an important source of news for many individuals, as a plurality of respondents, nearly one in every three, consult local television for news and information on current events. Fewer youth listen to podcasts, although audio platforms have nevertheless experienced substantial growth.
Youth attitudes on politics and media
Even though young Americans regularly consume information and derive value from digital and social media platforms, they also question their net impact to society. In particular, only a quarter of youth indicate that social media has had a net positive impact on American democracy. This statistic comes as little surprise, particularly following the increasing awareness of and discourse around concerns over digital and social media platforms as vectors of misinformation, division, and partisanship.
Respondents similarly believe that social media has had deleterious effects at the individual level. In particular, the Spring 2021 survey indicates that while a significant proportion of youth believe social media has improved their ability to express their political voice, over one-third of American youth believe social media has had a net negative impact on their mental health. Despite democratizing access to information and reducing barriers to political participation, these platforms have continued to draw criticism for their inability to contribute towards a thriving democracy and society.
The government’s role in regulating Big Tech
Young people’s skepticism toward digital and social media has manifested itself in many ways, including greater calls for scrutiny and regulation of the practices and policies of Big Tech companies. Many youth have questioned the social utility of large tech platforms and the unabated power they wield and sometimes abuse, perspectives shaped by their own experiences with digital and social media.
Youth underscore the important role government can play in addressing these issues through regulation. In fact, 48% of respondents believe that the U.S. government should regulate Big Tech companies more than they currently do, with 23% of young Americans articulating a need for “a lot more” regulation. In contrast, only 9% of respondents believe that the U.S. government should regulate Big Tech companies to a lesser degree.
Young people also hold strong opinions on the need for greater self-regulation for social media platforms. Roughly 68% of young Americans believe social media companies should remove misleading claims on their platforms, while 58% of respondents believe that political leaders should be held to stricter standards than average citizens on these platforms.
In short, young Americans want to rein in digital and social media’s influence on the broader political landscape. They view a range of measures, including public and private sector interventions, as necessary components of a strategic plan to doing so. As implementation of these regulations and policies continues to unfold, young Americans will undoubtedly exert strong influence on these platforms’ role in America’s political ecosystem moving forward.
Looking ahead
What remains distinctly clear from this analysis is that young people hold complicated views about the role of digital and social media in politics. While many benefit from access to a wide range of sources for their news and information, a significant proportion of American youth also recognize their limitations.
As momentum behind calls for their further regulation grows, only time will determine whether and how these platforms respond. Regardless, young people believe that stricter scrutiny and greater regulation of Big Tech will be necessary to ensure that social media platforms are effective stewards of democracy moving forward.
Image by Glenn Carstens-Peters is licensed under the Unsplash License.
