From Posts to Politics: The Relationship Between Social Media and Political Behavior and Attitudes

This study examines how social media usage predicts three key dimensions of U.S. political behavior and attitudes: affective polarization, trust in government, and voter turnout. Using post-COVID-19 data from the 2022 American National Election Studies (ANES) Social Media Study, the analysis evaluates whether greater social media engagement is associated with affective polarization, reduced trust in government, and voter turnout. Regression analyses reveal that while overall social media usage does not directly predict affective polarization, platform-specific effects emerge. TikTok engagement is associated with lower levels of affective polarization, while Reddit engagement correlates with intensified partisan hostility. Social media engagement does not significantly predict trust in government when examined as a whole, but platform-level variation indicates that TikTok use is associated with increased confidence in government institutions, while YouTube use corresponds with greater skepticism. Contrary to prior theories that suggest social media mobilizes voters, the study finds that greater social media engagement is linked to lower voter turnout, particularly among TikTok and YouTube users. By analyzing both aggregate and platform-specific effects, the research highlights the divergent ways social media is associated with political attitudes and behaviors. The findings contribute to the literature by addressing gaps related to newer social media platforms and post-pandemic political behavior, offering new insights into the complex relationship between digital engagement and democratic participation.