This statistic presents the share of adults in the United States who have adopted specific online strategies to hide their information from the government. During the survey period ending January 2015, it was found that among the 87 percent of U.S. adults who have heard of the government surveillance programs, 15 percent have used social media less often.
Share of adults in the United States who have adopted specific online strategies to hide their information from the government as of January 2015
Characteristic
Share of respondents
Changed privacy settings on social media
17%
Avoided certain apps
15%
Used social media less often
15%
Spoke more in person instead of communicating online or over the phone
14%
Uninstalled certain apps
13%
Avoided certain terms in online communications
13%
Unfriended or unfollowed people on social media
13%
Have not used certain terms in search engine queries they thought might trigger scrutiny
11%
Deleted social media accounts
8%
Made more phone calls instead of online communication
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Pew Research Center. (March 16, 2015). Share of adults in the United States who have adopted specific online strategies to hide their information from the government as of January 2015 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 09, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/440287/us-online-strategies-to-hide-information-from-the-government/
Pew Research Center. "Share of adults in the United States who have adopted specific online strategies to hide their information from the government as of January 2015." Chart. March 16, 2015. Statista. Accessed January 09, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/440287/us-online-strategies-to-hide-information-from-the-government/
Pew Research Center. (2015). Share of adults in the United States who have adopted specific online strategies to hide their information from the government as of January 2015. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 09, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/440287/us-online-strategies-to-hide-information-from-the-government/
Pew Research Center. "Share of Adults in The United States Who Have Adopted Specific Online Strategies to Hide Their Information from The Government as of January 2015." Statista, Statista Inc., 16 Mar 2015, https://www.statista.com/statistics/440287/us-online-strategies-to-hide-information-from-the-government/
Pew Research Center, Share of adults in the United States who have adopted specific online strategies to hide their information from the government as of January 2015 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/440287/us-online-strategies-to-hide-information-from-the-government/ (last visited January 09, 2025)
Share of adults in the United States who have adopted specific online strategies to hide their information from the government as of January 2015 [Graph], Pew Research Center, March 16, 2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/440287/us-online-strategies-to-hide-information-from-the-government/
