Social networks do not create a diversity of views

A research result breaks the long-held belief that social networks help people to open their personal views rather than real life contacts.

Social networks exploded in the past few years and by mid-2013 attracted about 72% of adults using the internet around the world

The study was conducted by the Pew Research Center - a US-based social research center based in Washington, DC, with a surveyed population of 1,801 adults from August 7 to September 16, 2013.

In this study, Pew Research focuses on a single issue that is controversial around the world. It was the Edward Snowden case that revealed a series of confidential information in 2013 showing the US National Security Agency ( NSA ) listening and sneaking personal phone views of millions of people around the world.

In the United States, a previous study conducted by Pew Research showed Snowden 's anti-support and pro-action rates are nearly equal. In it, 44% said it was harmful to the public interest, while 49% believed it to be for the common good.

Also in this new study, Pew Research 's goal is to determine whether social networks such as Facebook and Twitter help people who are afraid to publicly disclose their different views about strong political issues. more bold statements.

However, in an era without the Internet, studies of human behavior have come to the conclusion that people tend to not express their views publicly, possibly with family members. family, friends or colleagues if they believe their views are of 'minority' type.

The term social psychology calls that trend a ' silent twist ' ( spiral of silence ). And it is clear that the more people expect the social network, as a virtual space, to break that ' twist ', it does the opposite. 75% of the surveyed were willing to discuss Snowden at dinner with their families, but only 43% wanted to talk about it on Facebook and 41% on Twitter.