Heavy social media users believe in their influence. Democracy, not as much.

""A certain kind of person is opting into spending a lot of time on social media, and they may be people who are more disaffected to start with.""

""The longer someone spends on social media, the more likely they are to feel that other people value their opinions.""

""Only half of people who don't use social media find those forms of civic engagement effective.""

""Just 57 percent of heavy users agreed that democracy is the best form of government, compared to 73 percent of light users.""

A recent poll indicates that Americans spending over five hours daily on social media feel more valued but are also more inclined towards political violence and less supportive of democracy. The study, involving over 20,000 participants, reveals that heavy users are more likely to engage in civic activities but simultaneously show decreased faith in democracy. Researchers suggest that heavy social media usage may attract individuals who are already disaffected, complicating the understanding of social media's impact on political views.

Read at The Washington Post