David Lazer
@davidlazer.bsky.social
computational social scientist
But: who is using X has changed dramatically. E.g. it has shifted systematically away from Democrats & women, and towards Republicans & men. (From www.chip50.org/social-media...)
November 22, 2025 at 4:24 PM
But: who is using X has changed dramatically. E.g. it has shifted systematically away from Democrats & women, and towards Republicans & men. (From www.chip50.org/social-media...)
Great talk by John Wihbey @harvard.edu @shorensteinctr.bsky.social on his new book!
October 29, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Great talk by John Wihbey @harvard.edu @shorensteinctr.bsky.social on his new book!
5) The big BUT for higher education is that there are major concerns about cost and campus climate that are widely held.
October 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
5) The big BUT for higher education is that there are major concerns about cost and campus climate that are widely held.
4) While there is substantial variation regionally, there is strong support for science & higher ed across all 50 states (e.g. in this figure, looking at disapproval of federal funding cuts).
October 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
4) While there is substantial variation regionally, there is strong support for science & higher ed across all 50 states (e.g. in this figure, looking at disapproval of federal funding cuts).
3) There is a strong (latent) willingness to be mobilized politically.
October 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
3) There is a strong (latent) willingness to be mobilized politically.
2) People generally strongly disapprove of cutting funding for science, education, health, restricting visas.
October 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
2) People generally strongly disapprove of cutting funding for science, education, health, restricting visas.
Happy to release the first report from the American Higher Education Barometer (edbarometer.org), a 50 state survey re opinion on higher education. Key takeaways:
1) Generally, people see a universities as important to various high priority domains (economic growth, health, etc)
1) Generally, people see a universities as important to various high priority domains (economic growth, health, etc)
October 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Happy to release the first report from the American Higher Education Barometer (edbarometer.org), a 50 state survey re opinion on higher education. Key takeaways:
1) Generally, people see a universities as important to various high priority domains (economic growth, health, etc)
1) Generally, people see a universities as important to various high priority domains (economic growth, health, etc)
(Bluesky is that platform.)
August 21, 2025 at 1:24 AM
(Bluesky is that platform.)
Studying bluesky? Check out this great resource from @cetaceanneeded.bsky.social and collaborators!!
#polnet2025 #pacss2025
#polnet2025 #pacss2025
August 14, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Studying bluesky? Check out this great resource from @cetaceanneeded.bsky.social and collaborators!!
#polnet2025 #pacss2025
#polnet2025 #pacss2025
Reacting to reviewer 2...
July 1, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Reacting to reviewer 2...
There was a big generational shift towards Republican party identification, almost entirely among the younger cohorts, as housing prices shot up.
February 5, 2025 at 2:31 PM
There was a big generational shift towards Republican party identification, almost entirely among the younger cohorts, as housing prices shot up.
From an opinion piece that I failed to place. The TLDR is that the segment of the population with the most elastic political identities- younger people- took on the chin economically the last 4+ years- and swung away the party in power. Even educated, younger women swung towards Trump.
January 22, 2025 at 1:32 PM
From an opinion piece that I failed to place. The TLDR is that the segment of the population with the most elastic political identities- younger people- took on the chin economically the last 4+ years- and swung away the party in power. Even educated, younger women swung towards Trump.
Women are significantly more likely to TikTok then men...
January 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Women are significantly more likely to TikTok then men...
TikTok is also used much more by persons of color, with African American, Hispanic, and Asian American respondents all more likely to use TikTok than white respondents.
January 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM
TikTok is also used much more by persons of color, with African American, Hispanic, and Asian American respondents all more likely to use TikTok than white respondents.
So, what did we find on the demographics? First, it's much more used by young people. This matters distributionally (young people are losing one of their dominant platforms for speech), but also because young people will always lead the way to changes online.
January 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM
So, what did we find on the demographics? First, it's much more used by young people. This matters distributionally (young people are losing one of their dominant platforms for speech), but also because young people will always lead the way to changes online.
And, surprise surprise, Meta dominates the existing "attention market" among social media/messaging platforms, controlling about half of the market. Alphabet controls almost half of the remainder, and TikTok half what's left after Meta and Alphabet.
January 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM
And, surprise surprise, Meta dominates the existing "attention market" among social media/messaging platforms, controlling about half of the market. Alphabet controls almost half of the remainder, and TikTok half what's left after Meta and Alphabet.
Usage patterns for social media has been remarkably stable for the last 4 years. Chalk one up for network effects and incumbent advantage. TikTok is the main challenger that has emerged over the last 5 years to the big platforms.
January 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Usage patterns for social media has been remarkably stable for the last 4 years. Chalk one up for network effects and incumbent advantage. TikTok is the main challenger that has emerged over the last 5 years to the big platforms.
Used substantially more among non white populations, esp African American and Hispanic.
January 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Used substantially more among non white populations, esp African American and Hispanic.
It tilts a bit towards individuals with a lower education
January 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
It tilts a bit towards individuals with a lower education
It has a huge age gradient- about two thirds of 30 and under use TikTok, three quarters of those 18-20 in our sample; versus one in seven for older than 60.
January 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
It has a huge age gradient- about two thirds of 30 and under use TikTok, three quarters of those 18-20 in our sample; versus one in seven for older than 60.
First, TikTok is used by a lot of people in the US. About 40% of adults in the US use TikTok; bigger than X (28%) or Reddit (23%), a notch smaller than Instagram (50%) & much smaller than FB (80%). It was very fast growing, but has plateaued over the last 2 years or so.
January 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
First, TikTok is used by a lot of people in the US. About 40% of adults in the US use TikTok; bigger than X (28%) or Reddit (23%), a notch smaller than Instagram (50%) & much smaller than FB (80%). It was very fast growing, but has plateaued over the last 2 years or so.
Reflecting on the remarkable announcement from Meta today regarding content moderation. @sgonzalezbailon.bsky.social & I & team had a recent paper looking at the diffusion of (mis)information on Facebook during the 2020 election. A few reflections...
sociologicalscience.com/articles-v11...
sociologicalscience.com/articles-v11...
January 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Reflecting on the remarkable announcement from Meta today regarding content moderation. @sgonzalezbailon.bsky.social & I & team had a recent paper looking at the diffusion of (mis)information on Facebook during the 2020 election. A few reflections...
sociologicalscience.com/articles-v11...
sociologicalscience.com/articles-v11...
Re-upping the Feb 2021 CHIP50 report on public opinion in the aftermath of the storming of the Capitol. I think these conclusions stood up pretty well. www.chip50.org/reports/poli...
January 7, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Re-upping the Feb 2021 CHIP50 report on public opinion in the aftermath of the storming of the Capitol. I think these conclusions stood up pretty well. www.chip50.org/reports/poli...
