Study Reveals Limited Impact of Social Media Hiatus on Political Views

Research involving 35,000 users shows deactivating Facebook and Instagram reduces belief in misinformation but doesn't alter political attitudes

Participants who deactivated Facebook were less likely to believe misinformation but also showed decreased political engagement online.
The study found no significant change in political opinions or polarization from staying off social media before the 2020 election.
Deactivating Instagram had no notable effects on political outcomes, even among younger users.
Researchers noted a slight, statistically insignificant trend suggesting Facebook deactivation might influence voter support for Trump.
The experiment is part of a larger investigation into social media's role in American democracy, utilizing Meta's proprietary data.