When it comes to Republicans, the Pew survey on social media censorship isn’t likely to surprise anyone.
Nine-in-ten Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party say it’s at least somewhat likely that social media platforms censor political viewpoints they find objectionable, up slightly from 85% in 2018, when the Center last asked this question.
At the same time, the idea that major technology companies back liberal views over conservative ones is far more widespread among Republicans. Today, 69% of Republicans and Republican leaners say major technology companies generally support the views of liberals over conservatives, compared with 25% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.
Lincoln Project hardest hit.
Again, this is what happens when visible GOP figures, from President Trump on down, actually make a problem into a public issue. It mobilizes Republicans.
But there’s not much good news here for Big Tech across the board. Its numbers now look like those of the media with 59% of Democrats agreeing that Big Tech censors content for political reasons.
The endgame for the media has been getting Big Tech to censor conservative content and privilege media content. That is happening, but not quite to the degree it would like.
Fully 73% of Democrats say they strongly or somewhat approve of social media companies labeling posts on their platforms from elected officials as inaccurate or misleading. On the other hand, 71% of Republicans say they at least somewhat disapprove of this practice.
But filter out the Trump Derangement Syndrome and there’s very little confidence in Big Tech censorship.
51% of Democrats and leaners have little to no confidence in social media censorship, while only 46% do.
Among the total numbers of respondents, 67% have little to no confidence in social media flagging and fact checking, while only 31% do.
Democrats still want social media companies to do this, because it’s what they’re told will stop President Trump, but the national numbers are still split.
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