Most of us are hesitant to express opinions when we think our viewpoint is not widely shared. This has been referred to as the “spiral of silence.”
Social media was supposed to be a place that would encourage broad dialogue and diverse viewpoints. A report from the Pew Research Center finds that even with a smorgasbord of communication opportunities in our electronic world, people are less likely to speak up about issues when they think their viewpoint is not widely shared.
The Pew Research study, which focused on the Edward Snowden/National Security Agency story from 2013, shows that social media is not providing the forum for opinions or debate that was once envisioned. People who believe their friends and followers disagree with them are less likely to state their views, online or face to face. The more we are exposed to the diverse opinions out there, the more tempted we might be to remain neutral – or at least silent – even when we may feel passionate about our viewpoint. Could it be that social media is actually causing us to clam up?
The tongue-tied teen
Research shows that most of us rely on friends and associates to express their opinions before we offer our own. This is especially true of our teens. They are notably reluctant to appear out of step with their peers. Yet, in our educational institutions, we focus on teaching students to think critically and independently and to be bold voices for their own viewpoints. After all, how often has the minority voice proven to be right?