Social networkers are politically active

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Users of Twitter and other social networking sites are more civically and politically active than non-users, a Pew Research Center survey indicated Friday said.

A national survey of 2,253, conducted during the summer, indicated 35 percent of social media users have used the sites to encourage people to vote, 34 percent have posted their own thoughts or comments on political and social issues and 33 percent have reposted comments originally posted by other people.

Additionally, 21 percent of those who use social networking sites belong to an online group involved in a political or social cause, or is working to advance a cause, the survey said.

The findings come from a telephone and online survey conducted from July 16 to Aug. 7, and has a margin of error of 3.1 percent age points, the Center said.