{"id":378848,"date":"2026-09-15T09:56:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T13:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=378848"},"modified":"2026-09-18T09:50:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T13:50:35","slug":"how-americans-think-about-censorship-of-news-in-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2026\/09\/15\/how-americans-think-about-censorship-of-news-in-the-us\/","title":{"rendered":"How Americans think about censorship of news in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
About this research<\/summary>\n

This report from the\u00a0Pew-Knight Initiative<\/a>\u00a0looks at how Americans think about freedom of the press, as well as the related First Amendment concept of freedom of speech, in the United States today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why we did this<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center has asked about press freedom and free speech both domestically and globally for the past decade. The topic has become especially relevant amid the changing media environment<\/a> and the evolving concept of \u201cthe press\u201d<\/a>; the growing role of technology companies as gatekeepers<\/a> to news and information; and President Donald Trump\u2019s tense relationship with the news media<\/a>, which has led some groups and individuals to raise concerns about whether press freedom is being restricted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a good time to take a fresh look at Americans\u2019 views on press freedom in the U.S. \u2013 how they define it, what they think about its status and how they weigh it against other ongoing challenges in the news environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about\u00a0Pew Research Center<\/a>\u00a0and our\u00a0research on news habits and media<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How we did this<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We surveyed 3,507 U.S. adults from March 23 to 29, 2026, and 3,488 U.S. adults from June 22 to 28, 2026. Everyone who took part in these surveys is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel<\/a>. The surveys represent the views of the full U.S. adult population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also conducted 10 online focus group discussions led by SSRS with 74 U.S. adults, held from May 20 to June 4, 2026. These discussions do not represent the entire U.S. population. This report shares findings and quotes from the focus groups to help illustrate and add detail to the survey results. Quotes were lightly edited for spelling, punctuation and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the survey questions used for this report<\/a>, the detailed responses<\/a> and the methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a Pew Research Center report from the Pew-Knight Initiative, a research program funded jointly by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Find related reports online at\u00a0https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/pew-knight\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Discussions about censorship in America have taken many forms in the digital age. The Supreme Court weighed in<\/a> on the government\u2019s role in social media content moderation in 2024, and President Donald Trump issued an executive order<\/a> aimed at \u201cending federal censorship\u201d on the first day of his second term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Americans have long felt<\/a> that social media sites intentionally censor political viewpoints they find objectionable, while some also see \u201ccancel culture<\/a>\u201d as a form of censorship. Today, about a third of Americans (36%) say that people who share their political views are extremely or very free to openly express those views.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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60% of Americans say the government should be able to restrict news if it poses a national security risk<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
% of U.S. adults who say the U.S. government should<\/strong> be able to require a news organization to take down a news story if it \u2026<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Note: Respondents who did not answer are not shown.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted June 22-28, 2026.
\n\u201cAmericans Value Press Freedom but Differ on Its Limits\u201d<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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