According to an August 2021 survey, the majority of adults in the United States believed that social media made it easier to undertake various activities that enable the spread of harmful content. Overall, 95 percent of respondents said that social media made it easier to say things that they wouldn't say in person, while 92 percent believed it made harassing or threatening others easier. Around three quarters felt that social media made election interference easier.
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Knight Foundation. (March 9, 2022). Effect of social media on the ability to spread harmful content online according to adults in the United States as of August 2021 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 21, 2026, from /statistics/1310582/impact-social-media-harmful-content-usa/
Knight Foundation. "Effect of social media on the ability to spread harmful content online according to adults in the United States as of August 2021." Chart. March 9, 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 21, 2026. /statistics/1310582/impact-social-media-harmful-content-usa/
Knight Foundation. (2022). Effect of social media on the ability to spread harmful content online according to adults in the United States as of August 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 21, 2026. /statistics/1310582/impact-social-media-harmful-content-usa/
Knight Foundation. "Effect of Social Media on The Ability to Spread Harmful Content Online According to Adults in The United States as of August 2021." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 9 Mar 2022, /statistics/1310582/impact-social-media-harmful-content-usa/
Knight Foundation, Effect of social media on the ability to spread harmful content online according to adults in the United States as of August 2021 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1310582/impact-social-media-harmful-content-usa/ (last visited July 21, 2026)
Effect of social media on the ability to spread harmful content online according to adults in the United States as of August 2021 [Graph], Knight Foundation, March 9, 2022. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1310582/impact-social-media-harmful-content-usa/
