{"id":689225,"date":"2026-10-14T11:50:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T15:50:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=689225"},"modified":"2026-10-16T12:10:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T16:10:46","slug":"about-a-third-of-americans-have-left-an-online-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2026\/10\/14\/about-a-third-of-americans-have-left-an-online-community\/","title":{"rendered":"About a Third of Americans Have Left an Online Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Pew Knight Initiative<\/summary>\n
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The Pew-Knight Initiative supports new research on how Americans absorb civic information, form beliefs and identities, and engage in their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan, nonadvocacy fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. Knight Foundation is a social investor committed to supporting informed and engaged communities. Learn more ><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

About this research<\/summary>\n

This report from the\u202fPew-Knight Initiative<\/a> focuses on online community and connection today. It looks at who\u2019s part of online communities, where they form, what they\u2019re built around, why people go to them \u2013 and why some people leave. It also examines what people think the internet is doing to connection overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why we did this<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Center conducts research to inform the public, journalists and decision-makers. We\u2019ve long studied what online connection looks like for Americans<\/a>. At a time when fewer than half of Americans are highly satisfied with their social life \u2013 or with the quality of life in their local community \u2013 it\u2019s important to understand the role online communities play, good and bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How we did this<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We surveyed 9,750 U.S. adults from May 26 to June 1, 2026. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel<\/a>. The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the survey questions<\/a> used for this report, the detailed responses<\/a> and the methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a Pew Research Center report from the Pew-Knight Initiative, a research program funded jointly by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Find related reports online at\u202fhttps:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/pew-knight\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Online communities can draw people in with shared interests, support or a sense of belonging<\/a>. But for some Americans, these spaces aren\u2019t forever, according to a new Pew Research Center survey from the Pew-Knight Initiative<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About a third of U.S. adults say they have ever left an online community,<\/strong> according to the survey conducted May 26-June 1, 2026. This includes both some who currently are in an online community and some who are not<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When people move on from them, they cite a range of reasons \u2013 but declining interest is a big one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Losing interest is the most common reason people cite for leaving an online community.<\/strong> More than eight-in-ten who\u2019ve left one say this, and it\u2019s the only reason a majority name as a major<\/em> factor for stepping away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Declining quality and life changes are also reasons that majorities say contribute in at least a minor way to why they\u2019ve left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toxicity is another factor: 57% of those who\u2019ve left cite too much arguing. And 43% say it\u2019s because people were being harassed.[1. Previous Center studies show that substantial shares of both adults<\/a> and teenagers experience online harassment<\/a> and cyberbullying.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others stepped away because of politics. Just over four-in-ten say they left an online community because politics was brought up too much.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And as Americans continue to grapple with screen time<\/a>, 37% left because they were spending too much time there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How did we study online communities? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Our questions asked about feeling part of a community online. <\/strong>We wanted to capture a wide range of spaces and experiences that someone might consider as online community. Here\u2019s how we explained the topic further:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By this, we mean people connecting with others online, such as by joining or feeling part of a group or doing things together. This could happen in places like social media, online discussion forums, by emailing or messaging with a group, or in video games online.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

By age<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Younger adults are more likely to be part of online communities<\/a>. But adults under 50 are also more likely to have left<\/em> one, compared with older adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n