A recent study conducted by Pew Research Center sheds light on a trend of Twitter usage pauses among U.S. adults. However, the data does not directly attribute this behavior to Elon Musk’s ownership of the platform. The survey, which was conducted over a week in March, indicates that 60% of U.S. adult Twitter users have taken breaks from the platform for “several weeks or more” within the past year.
It’s important to note that Elon Musk officially acquired Twitter on October 27, 2022, meaning he has only been the owner for about six months, not a full year. Therefore, the reasons behind Twitter users taking extended breaks may or may not be related to the change in ownership. Additionally, without historical data for comparison, it remains unclear if this behavior was a regular pattern among Twitter users prior to this period.
Nevertheless, the data is intriguing as it suggests that Twitter may not have become such an addictive platform that users feel compelled to engage with on a daily basis. In contrast to Meta’s social apps, which boast 3.02 billion daily active users as of the first quarter, some Twitter users are opting to stay away from the app for extended periods, according to Pew’s findings.
Further analysis by Pew indicates that women and Black users are more likely to take breaks from Twitter. Around 69% of women compared to 54% of men reported taking breaks within the past 12 months. Similarly, 67% of Black users took breaks, compared to 60% of white users and 54% of Hispanic users. These findings may suggest that demographic factors, rather than politics or age, play a role in users’ decision to step away from the platform. Previous analyses and reports have highlighted that these demographics have historically faced higher levels of harassment on Twitter.
However, Pew’s research does not directly attribute these trends to Elon Musk. The study examines the past 12 months without comparing usage patterns before and after Musk’s ownership. It does, however, underscore Twitter’s ongoing struggle to tackle abuse on the platform despite its evolving policies aimed at addressing these issues.
In a separate study released on the same day, Pew explores the future of Twitter by asking current and recent users about their likelihood of using the platform a year from now.
