Social media users spend less time and lose trust in platforms when they encounter censorship: study – By Emma Colton (FOX Business) / Nov 6, 2022
Nearly half of social media users say they have encountered blocked or labeled content on platforms
A recent study found the majority of social media users trust an app less if they encounter censorship, and nearly a third of people who have encountered the blocked or labeled content have reduced the amount of time they spend on the platform.
“Using true/false as a test for blocking or labeling content inevitably leads to perception of bias and breaks the trust of users. The survey shows that this leads to reduced time spent and engagement by the 49% of users who have experienced content being blocked or labeled,” Mike Matthys, founder of The First and Fourteenth Institute, told Fox News Digital.
The First and Fourteenth Institute, a non-partisan organization that advocates for free speech, free press, and due process, conducted the national research between Sept. 27 and Oct. 4 by phone and online among 1,100 people who have at least one social media account.
The research found that 49% of people with social media accounts have seen blocked or labeled content, with 53% saying such censorship causes them to trust the app less. For Facebook users specifically, 58% of those surveyed said they trust the platform less after encountering blocked or labeled content.
