About a third of U.S. adults have left an online community they belonged to, and fading interest was the most common reason for moving on, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis.
The analysis by Jeffrey Gottfried, published Friday, found that 34% of adults had left an online community. Among those who had left one, more than eight in 10 said losing interest was at least a minor reason.
Losing interest was the only reason that a majority of former members described as a major factor. Sixty percent called it a major reason and 26% a minor reason.
The findings come from a survey of 9,750 U.S. adults conducted May 26 through June 1 through Pew’s American Trends Panel. The panel uses random sampling of residential addresses, and the results are weighted to represent the adult population.
Arguments and changing circumstances also matter
More than half of people who had left an online community cited a decline in quality or activity, a change in their life circumstances, or arguments among members as at least a minor reason.
Pew reported that 57% cited arguments. About four in 10 cited harassment, bullying or other hostile behavior, while a similar share cited political discussions or disagreements.
Feeling that they did not belong also factored into some departures. About a quarter of former members said that was a major reason, while another 23% called it a minor reason.
Reducing time spent online was a reason for 37% of those who had left a community. Fifteen percent described it as a major factor and 22% as a minor factor.
Respondents could identify more than one reason, so the percentages do not describe mutually exclusive groups.
Younger adults are more likely to have left
The share who reported leaving an online community declined with age: 44% of adults ages 18 to 29 had done so, compared with 40% of those ages 30 to 49, 32% of those ages 50 to 64 and 19% of those 65 and older.
Among former members younger than 50, majorities cited changes in life circumstances as a reason for leaving, a larger share than among older adults.
Former members under 50 were more likely to cite declining quality or activity, not feeling that they belonged and wanting to reduce time online. Those under 30 were the least likely age group to point to politics.
Political differences showed up in the reasons people gave as well. Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who had left a community were more likely than Democrats and Democratic leaners to cite politics: 50% compared with 39%.
Among liberal Democrats who had left, 32% cited politics as a reason. Pew did not find the same clear ideological difference among Republicans.
The overall shares who had left a community were closer across parties: 32% of Republicans and Republican leaners and 36% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.
The survey asked about online communities respondents considered themselves members of, such as groups centered on shared interests or identities. The reasons-for-leaving results describe the 3,333 respondents who had left such a community, rather than all adults or everyone who uses the internet.
The full survey included online and telephone interviews in English and Spanish. Its margin of sampling error was plus or minus 1.4 percentage points for all adults; subgroup estimates have greater uncertainty.
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