Mar 14: As local journalism outlets disappear in many communities, neighborhood social media platforms like Nextdoor are increasingly serving as sources of community information—a shift that may influence how people perceive crime and public safety, according to new research from the University of Colorado Boulder’s College of Communication, Media, Design and Information (CMDI).
In a paper published in New Media & Society, researchers Toby Hopp, associate professor in advertising, public relations and design, and journalism professor Patrick Ferrucci found that people who use Nextdoor more frequently report greater concern about crime and greater openness to aggressive policing tactics than those who use it less or not at all.
“Nextdoor is increasingly serving a need that has been historically served by local news outlets that don’t exist anymore,” said Hopp. “But Nextdoor’s business model is built around retaining audience attention and serving advertisements—it isn’t linked to journalistic norms like balance, fairness and verified reporting.”
The study is based on an online survey of 1,806 U.S. adults conducted in 2023. Participants reported how frequently they use Nextdoor, their levels of concern about crime, and their views on a range of policing practices. The researchers initially expected that users who trusted their neighbors less would be more concerned about crime. Instead, they found that people with higher levels of social trust expressed greater concern.
“Because those folks trust their neighbors, they’re more likely to take reports of crime seriously, which is associated with enhanced concern and an openness to more aggressive policing,” Hopp said.
The researchers could not determine whether users join Nextdoor because they are worried about crime or whether using the platform heightens those concerns. The authors say the findings add context to ongoing national conversations about immigration, incarceration and technology.
Ferrucci said neighborhood posts may amplify isolated incidents without broader context.
“It maybe gives people the idea that stolen packages, or loitering, are far more prevalent than they are” he said.
Researchers also analyzed respondents’ willingness to consider various policing approaches, including stop-and-frisk practices, vehicle searches during routine traffic stops and allowing police access to military-grade weapons.
“Each of these questions presents real constitutional concerns,” Hopp said. “And if you think about what you’re willing to accept in your community, are you more willing to support these kinds of things in other communities?”
