{"id":8819,"date":"2021-08-18T11:30:24","date_gmt":"2021-08-18T16:30:24","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-04-23T23:56:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T03:56:41","slug":"more-americans-now-say-government-should-take-steps-to-restrict-false-information-online-than-in-2018","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2021\/08\/18\/more-americans-now-say-government-should-take-steps-to-restrict-false-information-online-than-in-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"More Americans now say government should take steps to restrict false information online than in 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amid rising concerns over misinformation online \u2013 including surrounding the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/08\/10\/technology\/covid-delta-misinformation-surge.html\">COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>, especially vaccines \u2013 Americans are now a bit more open to the idea of the U.S. government taking steps to restrict false information online. And a majority of the public continues to favor technology companies taking such action, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-13973\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2021\/08\/18\/more-americans-now-say-government-should-take-steps-to-restrict-false-information-online-than-in-2018\/ft_21-08-16_techgovtmisinfo_1-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"eeeae5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #eeeae5;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/FT_21.08.16_TechGovtMisinfo_1.png?resize=480,585 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/FT_21.08.16_TechGovtMisinfo_1.png?resize=782,953 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/FT_21.08.16_TechGovtMisinfo_1.png?resize=840,1024 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"512\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/FT_21.08.16_TechGovtMisinfo_1.png?w=420\" alt=\"A bar chart showing that Americans are now split over whether government should take steps to restrict false information online; majority continue to say tech companies should do so\" class=\"wp-image-13973 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roughly half of U.S. adults (48%) now say the government should take steps to restrict false information, even if it means losing some freedom to access and publish content, according to the survey of 11,178 adults conducted July 26-Aug. 8, 2021. That is up from 39% in 2018. At the same time, the share of adults who say freedom of information should be protected \u2013 even if it means some misinformation is published online \u2013 has decreased from 58% to 50%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to whether technology companies should take steps to address misinformation online, more are in agreement. A majority of adults (59%) continue to say technology companies should take steps to restrict misinformation online, even if it puts some restrictions on Americans\u2019 ability to access and publish content. Around four-in-ten (39%) take the opposite view that protecting freedom of information should take precedence, even if it means false claims can spread. The balance of opinion on this question has changed little since 2018. <\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"border-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--block-gap: inherit\" class=\"is-style-alternate wp-block-prc-block-collapsible has-background has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-border-color has-ui-beige-dark-border-color\" id=\"how-we-did-this\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/collapsible&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;collapsibleId&quot;:&quot;how-we-did-this&quot;,&quot;isOpen&quot;:false}\" data-wp-class--is-open=\"context.isOpen\" data-wp-init--scroll-into-view=\"callbacks.onInitScrollIntoView\"><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__title\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"><div>How we did this<\/div><button class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__icon\"><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"context.isOpen\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-plus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-plus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!context.isOpen\" hidden><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-minus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-minus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__content\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To examine Americans\u2019 attitudes toward restricting false information online, Pew Research Center surveyed 11,178 U.S. adults from July 26 to Aug. 8, 2021. Everyone who completed the survey is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/our-methods\/u-s-surveys\/the-american-trends-panel\/\">ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a>. Here are <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/W93-topline-government-and-tech-regulations.pdf\">the questions used<\/a> for this analysis, along with responses, and <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/W93-ATP-Methodology_FOR-RELEASE.pdf\">its methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the latest report in Pew Research Center\u2019s ongoing investigation of the state of news, information and journalism in the digital age, a research program funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, with generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-13971\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2021\/08\/18\/more-americans-now-say-government-should-take-steps-to-restrict-false-information-online-than-in-2018\/ft_21-08-16_techgovtmisinfo_2-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f1f0f0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f1f0f0;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/FT_21.08.16_TechGovtMisinfo_2.png?resize=480,475 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/FT_21.08.16_TechGovtMisinfo_2.png?resize=782,775 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/FT_21.08.16_TechGovtMisinfo_2.png?resize=840,832 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"416\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/FT_21.08.16_TechGovtMisinfo_2.png?w=420\" alt=\"A chart showing that partisan divisions have widened over role of government, tech firms in restricting misinformation\" class=\"wp-image-13971 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Partisan divisions on the role of government in addressing online misinformation have emerged since 2018. Three years ago, around six-in-ten in each partisan coalition \u2013 60% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents and 57% of Democrats and Democratic leaners \u2013 agreed that freedom of information should be prioritized over the government taking steps to restrict false information online. Today, 70% of Republicans say those freedoms should be protected, even it if means some false information is published. Nearly as many Democrats (65%) instead say the government should take steps to restrict false information, even if it means limiting freedom of information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Partisan views on whether technology companies should take such steps have also grown further apart. Roughly three-quarters of Democrats (76%) now say tech companies should take steps to restrict false information online, even at the risk of limiting information freedoms. A majority of Republicans (61%) express the opposite view \u2013 that those freedoms should be protected, even if it means false information can be published online. In 2018, the parties were closer together on this question, though most Democrats still supported action by tech firms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some demographic differences that existed on these questions in 2018 have now largely disappeared.&nbsp;Three years ago, older Americans and those with less education were more likely than younger and more educated adults, respectively, to say the U.S. government should take steps to restrict false information online, even if means limiting some freedoms. Now, Americans across nearly all age groups are fairly evenly divided between the two views. Similar changes have occurred when it comes to Americans\u2019 educational background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Women still tend to be more open than men to the idea of both the government and tech companies taking action to restrict false information online, though both groups have become a bit more supportive of the government taking such steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-13966\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2021\/08\/18\/more-americans-now-say-government-should-take-steps-to-restrict-false-information-online-than-in-2018\/ft_2021-08-18_techmisinformation_03-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f4f4f4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f4f4f4;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/ft_2021.08.18_techmisinformation_03.png?resize=480,482 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/ft_2021.08.18_techmisinformation_03.png?resize=782,786 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/ft_2021.08.18_techmisinformation_03.png?resize=960,965 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/ft_2021.08.18_techmisinformation_03.png?resize=1200,1206 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/ft_2021.08.18_techmisinformation_03.png?resize=1280,1286 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"643\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/ft_2021.08.18_techmisinformation_03.png?w=640\" alt=\"A chart showing that majorities within each demographic group now say tech companies should restrict false information\" class=\"wp-image-13966 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Note: Here are <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/W93-topline-government-and-tech-regulations.pdf\">the questions used<\/a> for this analysis, along with responses, and <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/W93-ATP-Methodology_FOR-RELEASE.pdf\">its methodology<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>48% of US adults say the government should restrict false information online, even if it means losing some freedom to access\/publish content.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":584,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_crdt_document":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2021-08-19T14:24:25Z","apple_news_api_id":"a62d274f-81b6-457d-b054-c3abc6e03bba","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2021-08-19T14:24:25Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/Api0nT4G2RX2wVMOrxuA7ug","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"relatedPosts":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"bylines":[{"key":"_r0vumu4vc","termId":987},{"key":"_c7dxwsg9d","termId":784}],"acknowledgements":[],"displayBylines":true,"footnotes":"","prc_watchers":[]},"categories":[103,329,282,307,283,342],"bylines":[987,784],"collection":[],"datasets":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[467],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[515],"research-teams":[527],"workflow-status":[],"class_list":["post-8819","short-read","type-short-read","status-publish","hentry","category-free-speech-press","category-misinformation","category-misinformation-online","category-social-media","category-tech-companies-1","category-trust-in-media","bylines-amy-mitchell","bylines-mason-walker","formats-short-read","regions-countries-united-states","research-teams-journalism"],"label":"Short 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