If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

LIFESTYLE

Social Media Users Want Free Speech

In its ongoing fight against "fake news," Facebook has removed several pages from its site, but many users are angry that they've yet to remove a page known for spreading conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated rumors. Despite the outcry, though, most users still think it's best to let speech go unfettered on social media.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 59% agree that owners of social media should allow free speech without interference, while 25% think it is better if they regulate what is posted to make sure some people are not offended. These findings show little change from surveys since July 2016. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on July 19 & 22, 2018 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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Rasmussen Reports is a media company specializing in the collection, publication and distribution of public opinion information.

We conduct public opinion polls on a variety of topics to inform our audience on events in the news and other topics of interest. To ensure editorial control and independence, we pay for the polls ourselves and generate revenue through the sale of subscriptions, sponsorships, and advertising. Nightly polling on politics, business and lifestyle topics provides the content to update the Rasmussen Reports web site many times each day. If it's in the news, it's in our polls. Additionally, the data drives a daily update newsletter and various media outlets across the country.

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