A majority of Americans are worried that social media companies are censoring content related to the 2024 election, according to a new poll. The Center Square Voter’s Voice survey found that 61% of likely voters are concerned about censorship on platforms like Facebook and Google as Election Day approaches.
The poll, which surveyed 2,290 likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.1%, revealed that men (64%) are slightly more concerned than women (57%).
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The data also showed significant concern among racial groups, with 66% of Hispanic voters and 62% of white voters expressing worry. Meanwhile, 44% of Black voters shared concerns.
Republicans are leading the charge in raising alarms, with 78% expressing concern, compared to just 43% of Democrats. However, 61% of independents — a key swing voting group — said they were also worried about censorship.
These concerns are being fueled by recent revelations. In August, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted to Congress that his company had bowed to government pressure to censor content during the 2020 election and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Similar scrutiny has been directed at Google, which faced backlash for allegedly manipulating search results related to past presidents, though the company has denied intentional censorship.
The poll highlights growing distrust of tech platforms in political spaces, with voters fearing that vital information may be hidden in the final weeks of the election cycle.
As social media plays an increasingly central role in shaping political discourse, concerns about how these platforms moderate content could become a deciding factor in the 2024 presidential race.
[Karah Rucker]
IN THE LEAD-UP TO THE 2024 ELECTION, CONCERNS OVER SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP ARE ON THE RISE. A NEW POLL REVEALS THAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE WORRIED THAT PLATFORMS LIKE FACEBOOK, X AND GOOGLE MAY BE CENSORING CONTENT THAT COULD IMPACT VOTERS’ DECISIONS.
THE CENTER SQUARE SHOWS THAT 61-PERCENT OF AMERICANS ARE CONCERNED THAT SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES ARE CENSORING ELECTION-RELATED CONTENT.
BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS FURTHER… 64-PERCENT OF MEN AND 57-PERCENT OF WOMEN EXPRESSED WORRY.
66-PERCENT OF HISPANIC VOTERS AND 62-PERCENT OF WHITE VOTERS SHARE CONCERNS, WHILE 44-PERCENT OF BLACK VOTERS ARE ALSO WORRIED.
ONE OF THE KEY DIVIDES IS POLITICAL AFFILIATION. 78-PERCENT OF REPUBLICANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CENSORSHIP, WHILE ONLY 43-PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT. HOWEVER, A SIGNIFICANT 61-PERCENT OF INDEPENDENTS ARE ALSO WORRIED, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS MAY INFLUENCE SWING VOTERS.
THIS COMES ON THE HEELS OF MAJOR REVELATIONS INVOLVING TECH COMPANIES. IN AUGUST, META CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG ADMITTED THAT HIS COMPANY HAD BOWED TO GOVERNMENT PRESSURE TO CENSOR CERTAIN CONTENT DURING THE PREVIOUS ELECTION AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. GOOGLE IS FACING SCRUTINY AS WELL FOR ALLEGED SEARCH RESULT MANIPULATIONS, INCLUDING CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT OMITTING KEY POLITICAL INFORMATION.
AS THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE TIGHTENS, ANY PERCEIVED OR ACTUAL CENSORSHIP COULD SWAY OPINIONS IN THE FINAL STRETCH. THE FEAR IS THAT VITAL INFORMATION MAY BE HIDDEN, AND THAT COULD SHAPE THE OUTCOME OF THIS ELECTION.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.
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