Conversations within the family or workplace are the preferred places for Americans to discuss hot topics like government surveillance through the NSA. However, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center, they are much less likely to discuss the Snowden revelations on social media.
While 86% can comfortably have a face-to-face conversation about this topic, only 42% would post something about it on Facebook or Twitter. This is one of the most important findings of the Snowden case research, social media does not provide a trusted space for people who want to talk about such issues, and so they prefer to remain silent with their opinions.
One reason for this behavior is the so-called “spiral of silence.” The term refers to the tendency of people not to talk about political issues, in public, or sometimes even within family, friends, and colleagues, when they believe that their views will not be widely accepted.
See the infographic from Statista
Source: secnews.gr
