Politics on social media: don’t be anxious or apathetic
By The Sower Staff
This editorial is featured in the October print edition of the Sower student newspaper.
If you have social media, you have likely seen political content on your feed. The question remains: how should you interact with political content to be informed but not overwhelmed?
A 2020 article in the Atlantic Journal of Communication said that media consumption can either positively or negatively affect political participation. Negatively, media can keep people preoccupied or disconnected from their communities, but positively, media can provide political information and get people interested enough to vote.
The article’s authors looked primarily at the media of television, print and online news, but the same effects apply to news content on social media. Political content on social media includes posts from news organizations as well as peers, family members, influencers and other groups/organizations.
Negatively, social media users can get caught in an echo chamber of opinions in a curated feed, or they can become overwhelmed by a barrage of information. Positively, social media users can continue political conversations and influence the issues people pay attention to during the election season.
Even if users do not engage with political posts, they tend to see politics on their feeds, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center report. It found 74% of X (formerly known as Twitter) users saw at least some political posts, as well as 52% of Facebook users, 45% of TikTok users and 36% of Instagram users.
These statistics are based on the general population of social media users. However, young people, including college students, use social media more than other age demographics and may be more affected by political content.
Another 2024 Pew Research Center report found that young people ages 18-29 were the leading demographic on Instagram, TikTok, and X. It said 78% of young people used Instagram, 62% used TikTok and 42% used X. Data showed 67% of young people used Facebook, but they were the third-largest demographic behind ages 30-49 and 50-64.
People have concerns with the political content they see on social media, according to another Pew Research Center study. Between 2018 and 2023, the percentage of people who disliked the inaccuracy of news on their social media feeds grew from 31% to 40%, while concerns about bias increased from 6% to 10%.
As social media feeds display the political opinions of peers and family members and algorithmically share hot news topics, the product can become overwhelming. Yet the answer to political content is not apathy or seclusion.
What should you do when faced with political content on social media?
First, practice critical thinking and fact-checking. Especially when posts are infused with commentary or elicit an emotional response, the truth is not always evident. Compare articles from different news sources to find the correct information and recognize any hidden bias. For example, check how FOX News, CNN, and the Associated Press frame the same story and recognize if opinions creep into factual reporting.
Second, keep an open mind and avoid getting stuck in a feedback loop. Consider opposing arguments instead of ignoring them and be wary of immediately conforming to what others say. Try to react with calmness instead of anger and try to start discussions instead of arguments.
Third but most importantly, take your anxiety to God. Paying attention to politics can be emotionally charged and mentally draining. Christians are still called to be good citizens, neighbors, family members, and friends, but God promises that He works out everything for our good and for His glory.
