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Just 6% of US adults on Twitter account for 73% of political tweets

62 points by rblion 7y ago

drak0n1c 7y ago
And only a tiny fraction of adults in the US are on Twitter at all. That is why it's unnerving to see politicians and corporations so readily bend over backwards to appease Twitter. This is a big reason for the polarization on both sides - Twitter encourages so many declarations and steps one after the other in such rapid succession that we are sprinting away like never before.
- FreedomToCreate 7y ago
  I ignore pretty much anything that happens on twitter. I don't have any friends that use twitter either. Most are Instagram users and share moments and thoughts on that platform. The media gives Twitter its power because it amplifies the tweets politicians and others make.
- vosper 7y ago
  > That is why it's unnerving to see politicians and corporations so readily bend over backwards to appease Twitter. You're right, and it really doesn't help that plenty of media outlets either rewrite Twitter activity into a story, or quote tweets in their articles. This has a huge amplifying affect on the power of Twitter. It feels like it's representative, though it's far from it.
  - lonelappde 7y ago
    It's not Twitter driven, though. The mainstream media picks a narrative to suit their commercial interests, and then filters Twitter to cherrypick evidence for it. Twitter just optimized a process that use to be calling around to friends to get the desired "vox populi" quote.
- RcouF1uZ4gsC 7y ago
  > This is a big reason for the polarization on both sides - Twitter encourages so many declarations and steps one after the other in such rapid succession that we are sprinting away like never before. I am becoming more convinced that Twitter is a net negative for humanity and for liberal democracy. If you tried to come up with something g to tear apart a society, it would be hard to do worse than Twitter.
  - pacerwpg 7y ago
    The platform doesn't do anything to promote actual engagement in conversation and instead actually provides tools that serve to only promote an echo chamber. Any user that is seeking to promote one point of view can endlessly churn out tweets from their perspective. If anybody challenges them in any way, asks them to provide backing or evidence of some type, or provides any details disproving their claims all the user has to do is block that user and continue posting. The blocked user no longer has access to even view those tweets and anything challenging the preferred narrative is not even allowed into the conversation. There is no limit to blocking people. You don't need justification to block somebody. I understand it's necessary to be able to block harassment but the way it's implemented goes well beyond that goal.
- peoepl929 7y ago
  The polarization was there Twitter made it visible Don’t tell me a country that only elected its first black President 11 years ago (and has yet to elect a woman) wasn’t dealing with some serious polarization problems This is retconning history and deflecting away from the fact public apathy towards involvement in the political system is the problem Mental gymnastics need to stop and the public need to take a sober look at their own negligence American citizens literally built Twitter. Not the government or one CEO American citizens prop up the profit value of it Grow up America. No wonder it’s a hole, the generation in charge is lost in their 80s memes and nostalgia You’re doing this to yourselves
  - ralusek 7y ago
    Using the race and gender of elected officials is a great way to determine polarization...
heelix 7y ago
I really, really wish one could filter twitter content. Even a dozen keywords to nope on would make a world of difference in election seasons.
- kick 7y ago
  ----> How to use advanced muting options ---------> Muting options for words and hashtags https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/advanced-twitter-mute-options https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/advanced-twitter-m...
- jperry 7y ago
  You can. Twitter has a fairly robust word muting system in your account settings.
lathiat 7y ago
Honestly I'm surprised it's even 6%
tootahe45 7y ago
Twitter can assist these people in getting help hopefully.
tibbydudeza 7y ago
Twitter is a giant cesspool like Facebook. Empowering hateful idiots and making money from it is not a sacred mission statement.
- ralusek 7y ago
  Which ones are the hateful idiots to you? I'd wager we'd come up with two very different pools of people, but I could be wrong.
  - dawg- 7y ago
    Trick question! Both of your answers will be correct.
- lm28469 7y ago
  It really is working like that for any global communities. Reddit, HN, facebook, twitter, there is no escaping it. As soon as a community is big enough to cut personal connections you're in for troubles. I'm on a few hobby forums which are either restricted to a geographic area or a very niche hobby and there is literally no drama, everyone is chill, arguments are civilised, you can talk about everything but it never gets out of control. It's like talking to your parents or your best friend who has a diametrically opposed opinion vs screaming at a stranger you disagree with at a political rally.
RedBeetDeadpool 7y ago
Even in a live conversation, theres usually a few loud and outspoken individual who say the majority of words.
JohnClark1337 7y ago
When I joined Twitter I thought, "Oh cool, I'll follow the celebrities and journalists I like, and they'll talk about cool stuff that's coming out, maybe crack a few jokes, and it will be fun" I left when I realized that most of them just use twitter to vent about politics.

62 points by rblion 7y ago

And only a tiny fraction of adults in the US are on Twitter at all. That is why it's unnerving to see politicians and corporations so readily bend over backwards to appease Twitter. This is a big reason for the polarization on both sides - Twitter encourages so many declarations and steps one after the other in such rapid succession that we are sprinting away like never before.

FreedomToCreate 7y ago
I ignore pretty much anything that happens on twitter. I don't have any friends that use twitter either. Most are Instagram users and share moments and thoughts on that platform. The media gives Twitter its power because it amplifies the tweets politicians and others make.
vosper 7y ago
> That is why it's unnerving to see politicians and corporations so readily bend over backwards to appease Twitter. You're right, and it really doesn't help that plenty of media outlets either rewrite Twitter activity into a story, or quote tweets in their articles. This has a huge amplifying affect on the power of Twitter. It feels like it's representative, though it's far from it.
- lonelappde 7y ago
  It's not Twitter driven, though. The mainstream media picks a narrative to suit their commercial interests, and then filters Twitter to cherrypick evidence for it. Twitter just optimized a process that use to be calling around to friends to get the desired "vox populi" quote.
RcouF1uZ4gsC 7y ago
> This is a big reason for the polarization on both sides - Twitter encourages so many declarations and steps one after the other in such rapid succession that we are sprinting away like never before. I am becoming more convinced that Twitter is a net negative for humanity and for liberal democracy. If you tried to come up with something g to tear apart a society, it would be hard to do worse than Twitter.
- pacerwpg 7y ago
  The platform doesn't do anything to promote actual engagement in conversation and instead actually provides tools that serve to only promote an echo chamber. Any user that is seeking to promote one point of view can endlessly churn out tweets from their perspective. If anybody challenges them in any way, asks them to provide backing or evidence of some type, or provides any details disproving their claims all the user has to do is block that user and continue posting. The blocked user no longer has access to even view those tweets and anything challenging the preferred narrative is not even allowed into the conversation. There is no limit to blocking people. You don't need justification to block somebody. I understand it's necessary to be able to block harassment but the way it's implemented goes well beyond that goal.
peoepl929 7y ago
The polarization was there Twitter made it visible Don’t tell me a country that only elected its first black President 11 years ago (and has yet to elect a woman) wasn’t dealing with some serious polarization problems This is retconning history and deflecting away from the fact public apathy towards involvement in the political system is the problem Mental gymnastics need to stop and the public need to take a sober look at their own negligence American citizens literally built Twitter. Not the government or one CEO American citizens prop up the profit value of it Grow up America. No wonder it’s a hole, the generation in charge is lost in their 80s memes and nostalgia You’re doing this to yourselves
- ralusek 7y ago
  Using the race and gender of elected officials is a great way to determine polarization...

heelix 7y ago

I really, really wish one could filter twitter content. Even a dozen keywords to nope on would make a world of difference in election seasons.

kick 7y ago
----> How to use advanced muting options ---------> Muting options for words and hashtags https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/advanced-twitter-mute-options https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/advanced-twitter-m...
jperry 7y ago
You can. Twitter has a fairly robust word muting system in your account settings.

lathiat 7y ago

Honestly I'm surprised it's even 6%

tootahe45 7y ago

Twitter can assist these people in getting help hopefully.

tibbydudeza 7y ago

Twitter is a giant cesspool like Facebook. Empowering hateful idiots and making money from it is not a sacred mission statement.

ralusek 7y ago
Which ones are the hateful idiots to you? I'd wager we'd come up with two very different pools of people, but I could be wrong.
- dawg- 7y ago
  Trick question! Both of your answers will be correct.
lm28469 7y ago
It really is working like that for any global communities. Reddit, HN, facebook, twitter, there is no escaping it. As soon as a community is big enough to cut personal connections you're in for troubles. I'm on a few hobby forums which are either restricted to a geographic area or a very niche hobby and there is literally no drama, everyone is chill, arguments are civilised, you can talk about everything but it never gets out of control. It's like talking to your parents or your best friend who has a diametrically opposed opinion vs screaming at a stranger you disagree with at a political rally.

RedBeetDeadpool 7y ago

Even in a live conversation, theres usually a few loud and outspoken individual who say the majority of words.

JohnClark1337 7y ago

When I joined Twitter I thought, "Oh cool, I'll follow the celebrities and journalists I like, and they'll talk about cool stuff that's coming out, maybe crack a few jokes, and it will be fun" I left when I realized that most of them just use twitter to vent about politics.