Love it or hate it, social media has fundamentally reshaped modern politics. In this guide, we explain how social media fits into today’s political landscape, and share key stats, rules, and best practices to help you navigate it effectively.
Key takeaways
Social media shapes what’s considered important. It helps determine which topics trend, and what issues people see, talk about, and ultimately care about.
It’s a major campaign channel. Politicians rely on social platforms to speak directly to voters, test different messages, and rally supporters.
It can deepen political divides. Social media can rapidly spread misinformation, strengthen echo chambers, and boost misleading or extreme content.
Platforms set the rules for political content. Some networks permit targeted political advertising, while others limit or ban it altogether.
Politics on social media moves quickly. Tools like Hootsuite help teams monitor conversations, organize and publish content, and respond in real time.
Social media and politics: Stats and facts
1. Political advertisers spent more than $1.9 billion on digital ads during the 2024 U.S. presidential race
Meta was the top seller of political ads, accounting for over $1 billion in reported spending.
2. 1 in 5 U.S. adults say they regularly get news from social media
Another 32% of U.S. adults say they “sometimes” get their news from social platforms.
Source: Pew Research Center
3. 57% of X (Twitter) users use the platform to follow politics — the highest share among major platforms
That’s just above TikTok (55%) and Facebook (53%).
Source: Pew Research Center
4. 50% of users say social media platforms are important for finding people who…