<
https://theconversation.com/from-defenders-to-skeptics-the-sharp-decline-in-young-americans-support-for-free-speech-254953>
"For much of the 20th century, young Americans were seen as free speech’s
fiercest defenders. But now, young Americans are growing more skeptical of free
speech.
According to a March 2025 report by The Future of Free Speech, a nonpartisan
think tank where I am executive director, support among 18- to 34-year-olds for
allowing controversial or offensive speech has dropped sharply in recent years.
In 2021, 71% of young Americans said people should be allowed to insult the
U.S. flag, which is a key indicator of support for free speech, no matter how
distasteful. By 2024, that number had fallen to just 43% – a 28-point drop.
Support for pro‑LGBTQ+ speech declined by 20 percentage points, and tolerance
for speech that offends religious beliefs fell by 14 points.
This drop contributed to the U.S. having the third-largest decline in free
speech support among the 33 countries that The Future of Free Speech surveyed –
behind only Japan and Israel.
Why has this support diminished so dramatically?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
