(upbeat music)
Presenter: From the contentious election of 2016
to another polarizing national vote in 2020,
Americans are feeling the health cost of politics.
Political scientist, Kevin Smith,
surveyed voters in March 2017
and again before and after the November 2020 election.
-: Between early 2017 and late 2020,
it was more or less the same proportion of American adults
who were saying things like "Politics is stressing me out.
Politics is fatiguing me."
You know, when I engage in politics,
I engage in behaviors that I'm not particularly proud of.
Presenter: Just as in 2017,
those surveyed in 2020 report loss of sleep
and damaged friendships.
About 5% reported thoughts of suicide.
-: A huge chunk of American adults
genuinely perceive politics as exacting a serious toll
on their social,
psychological, and even their physical health.
Presenter: Smith speculates social media plays a role.
-: You know, you've got a computer in your pocket
dinging every 30 seconds.
And you know, there's an algorithm behind it
deliberately designed to push your button on this issue
or that issue.
Presenter: Smith worries voters don't just disagree,
but see the other side as immoral
or they participate without information and knowledge.
He fears continued polarization weakens democracy.
-: People view politics as so conflictual
and potentially as a threat to their friendship networks
or maybe even to their physical health
that they just sort of like, "I'm done with it.
To heck with it.
I don't wanna get involved."
(upbeat music)