A new study from the Charles F. Kettering Foundation and Gallup reveals that heavy social media users are significantly less likely to view democracy as the best form of government. Among Americans who spend five or more hours daily on social platforms, only 57% rank democracy as optimal, compared to 72-73% of those using social media less than an hour daily or not at all.
The research suggests social media is fundamentally reshaping democratic engagement by expanding access to ideas while creating a more fractured information environment. Heavy users demonstrate concerning departures from traditional democratic norms, indicating how prolonged platform exposure may influence political attitudes and civic participation.
The data reveals stark differences in democratic values between user groups. Heavy social media users are nearly twice as likely to view facts as subjective (16% versus 9%) and almost three times more likely to consider political violence sometimes acceptable (22% versus 8%). These findings suggest correlation between platform usage intensity and erosion of democratic principles.
Despite weakened democratic support, heavy users show greater belief in citizen empowerment, with more respondents thinking ordinary people can influence national events. However, they also feel more respected in their beliefs (42% versus 31% of non-users), potentially indicating echo chamber effects that reinforce existing viewpoints while undermining broader democratic consensus.
The survey of 20,338 U.S. adults was conducted between July 7-August 21, 2025, with a margin of error of ±0.9 percentage points.