Study: Liberals Most Likely to 'Unfriend' Over Political Disagreements

Religion Today | Published: Mar 15, 2012

Study: Liberals Most Likely to 'Unfriend' Over Political Disagreements

March 16, 2012

According to a new study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, liberals are about twice as likely as conservatives or moderates to block, unfriend or hide someone on a social networking site, such as Facebook, Twitter or Google+, the Christian Post reports. Eighteen percent of all social networking site users have taken steps to block or hide someone because of political content -- 28 percent of liberals, 16 percent of conservatives and 14 percent of moderates. The most common reason liberals blocked, hid or unfriended someone was because that person posted something they disagreed with politically (16 percent of liberals, 8 percent of conservatives and 6 percent of moderates), or because someone posted too frequently about politics (14 percent of liberals, 9 percent of conservatives and 8 percent of moderates). Those who got blocked, unfriended or hidden were mostly likely (67 percent) to be a distant friend or acquaintance, and least likely to be a family member (18 percent).

Study: Liberals Most Likely to 'Unfriend' Over Political Disagreements