Representative Jake Auchincloss says politicians need to ditch their phones and get in touch with nature … telling us most are nice IRL — but they can get real nasty online.

We caught up with the the Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts on Capitol Hill earlier this week … and we asked him about the differences between politicians’ in-person and online personas.

Rep. Auchincloss acknowledges social media is a useful mass communication tool — like newspapers and TV — but he still thinks face-to-face encounters lead to more understanding across political divides.

The congressman also defends most of his colleagues … claiming a vast majority are trying to govern correctly — but a small minority is ruining it for everyone.