More than half of Washington policymakers, political professionals and advocacy insiders believe social media has surpassed traditional media in shaping politics and public policy, according to a new survey released Thursday by public affairs firm DCI and communications company Victory Phones.
The survey, conducted as part of the newly launched “We Ask DC” initiative, found 53% of respondents said social media now has more influence over politics and policy than traditional media outlets, while 18% said traditional media still holds greater influence.
The survey collected responses from 400 Washington insiders between February and May and carried a reported margin of error of 4.85%, according to the organizations.
Researchers said the findings reflect a shift in how influential Washington audiences consume information, despite continued concerns about credibility and accuracy online.
“More than half of DC Insiders believe social media now outpaces traditional media in shaping politics and policy, problem is nobody trusts it,” Brian McCabe, managing partner at DCI, said in a statement. “As public affairs professionals focus on leveraging influence, we have to make sure our messaging is fact-based and succinct. There’s no room for error and no time for hesitancy.”
According to the survey, more than half of respondents said they spend at least three hours per day consuming news and policy-related content. Among respondents ages 18 to 35, 41% said they consume five or more hours daily.
The survey also found a gap between usage and trust in social media platforms. While 75% of respondents said they regularly use social media, only 9% said they trust it most as a source of news and policy information.
Researchers also reported growing influence from podcasts and artificial intelligence tools within Washington policy and political circles.
Half of respondents said podcasts now rival or exceed traditional media in influence, while 36% said podcasts are their primary source of information during their commute.
The survey found 67% of organizations represented by respondents currently use artificial intelligence tools, though only 4% of respondents said they had high confidence in AI accuracy for news and policy information.
“We have worked on thousands of projects over the last 16 years for Governors, Senators, U.S. Representatives, and numerous policy and political organizations all over America,” Dave Dishaw, president of Victory Phones, said in a statement. “However, we felt strongly that there was a need in the marketplace for straightforward research for policymakers and policy shapers, and we are grateful to DCI for the opportunity to partner in providing these leading insights.”
The We Ask DC initiative said it surveys a curated network of more than 20,000 policymakers, advocates, experts and political professionals using phone, email and text outreach methods. Organizers said additional survey findings will be released later this year.
