U.S. adults opinions on free speech online 2022| Statista

According to a March 2022 survey conducted in the United States, 80 percent of respondents agreed that the internet makes it easier for people to share their views with a large number of people. Overall, 68 percent of respondents stated that the internet makes it easier for people to anonymously share their views. Almost half of all respondents agreed that the internet should be a free speech zone where speech should be uncensored, whilst 26 percent disagreed with this statement. Additionally, over a third of those surveyed felt that the internet makes it easier for people to share their views without consequences.

How the internet has affected free speech according to adults in the United States as of March 2022

Characteristic	Agree	Not sure	Disagree
The internet makes it easier for people to share their views with a large number of people	80%	12%	7%
The internet gives people access to a wider range of views	76%	13%	11%
The internet makes it easier for large groups to collectively shame someone for their views	74%	16%	9%
The internet makes it easier for people to anonymously share their views	68%	16%	16%
Free speech does not mean that social media platforms are obligated to amplify or widely distribute every persons views	59%	22%	19%
The internet makes it harder for people to distance themselves from views they shared in the past but no longer hold	58%	27%	15%
The internet should be a free speech zone, where speech should be uncensored	49%	25%	26%
The internet makes it easier for people to share their views without consequences	49%	18%	34%
The internet helps put the views of ordinary citizens on a more level playing field with the views of the elites	48%	24%	27%
The internet promotes people finding common ground	39%	27%	34%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%110%120%

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Release date

April 2022

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

March 22 to 25, 2022

Number of respondents

1,000 respondents

Age group

18 years and older

Method of interview

Online panel

Supplementary notes

According to the source: "How the sample was weighted: According to gender, age, race, and education based on the 2018 American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as news interest and 2020 Presidential vote (or non-vote)."

The values may not sum up to 100 percent due to rounding.

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