iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — One of the big complaints about social media is that people seem all too willing to share every opinion they have with the world.
But a new Pew Research Center poll in conjunction with Rutgers University challenges that view, at least when it comes to controversial political issues.
In a survey of 1,800 adults, Facebook and Twitter users more times than not won’t express an opinion on matters that come up on talk radio or cable TV.
Pew researchers think these social media sites inadvertently encourage people to exercise self-censorship unless they’re pretty sure that most who read their opinions agree with them.
Therefore, talking about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is pretty safe, compared to expressing views on abortion or immigration.
While Pew found that 86 percent of Facebook or Twitter users would be willing to discuss an issue such as government surveillance at a town hall meeting or at some other event with friends, less than half that number would feel comfortable talking about it on social media.
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