42% Believe Social Media Undermines Culture, 34% Disagree

Posted on July 6, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Forty-two percent (42%) of voters believe technology and social media companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter mostly undermine positive culture in America. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 34% disagree and believe these platforms build up positive culture. Twenty-four percent (24%) are not sure.

There is a massive partisan divide on this question. By a 61% to 16% margin, Republicans believe social media companies undermine positive culture. By a 46% to 28% margin, Democrats believe social media companies build up positive culture.

Forty-one percent (41%) of Independent voters believe the tech platforms undermine culture. Twenty-nine percent (29%) believe they build up culture.

A plurality (46%) of White voters think they undermine culture. A plurality of Black voters (40%) and majority of Hispanic voters (53%) take the opposite view.

Those with post-graduate degrees tend to see the impact of social media companies in a positive light. So do those who consider social media to be Very Important in their own life.

Those without a post-graduate degree and who attach less importance to social media tend to hold the opposite view.

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Note: Neither Scott Rasmussen, ScottRasmussen.com, nor RMG Research, Inc. have any affiliation with Rasmussen Reports. While Scott Rasmussen founded that firm, he left more than seven years ago and has had no involvement since that time.

Methodology

The online survey of 1,000 Registered Voters was conducted by Scott Rasmussen on June 24-27, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

47% Believe Big Tech Companies Actively Supported Biden in 2020; 10% Say They Supported Trump

Posted on July 6, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Forty-seven percent (47%) of voters believe Big Tech companies actively supported Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential election. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that just 10% think they actively supported Donald Trump.

Twenty percent (20%) believe that the companies remained neutral and 23% are not sure.

In every measured demographic group, more voters believed that the companies supported Biden rather than Trump. Even Democrats, by a 3-to-1 margin, held that view.

Other data showed that 78% of voters believe tech companies like Twitter, Facebook, and Google could swing the results of the election to benefit their preferred candidate. Additionally, 62% believe technology companies have too much influence on our politics and political campaigns.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act gives big tech companies special immunity from prosecution for things posted on their platforms. Since they received this immunity from the government, 63% of voters believe they should they be required to abide by the 1st Amendment guarantee of free speech.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of voters believe it is more important to ensure that social media companies operate fairly rather than protecting the companies from government interference. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 19% disagree and believe protecting social media companies from government interference is the higher priority.

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Methodology

78% Believe Tech Companies Could Swing Election to Candidate They Like

Posted on July 6, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of voters believe tech companies like Twitter, Facebook, and Google could swing the results of the election to benefit their preferred candidate. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that just 10% found that prospect unlikely.

The totals include 47% who say it’s Very Likely they could swing an election and just 3% who say it’s Not at All Likely.

Eighty-two percent (82%) of Republicans believe the tech companies could swing an election. So do 82% of Democrats.

The survey also found that 62% believe technology companies have too much influence on our politics and political campaigns. Just 6% say they have too little influence. Nineteen percent (19%) believe the level of influence is about right.

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Methodology

63% Believe Big Tech Companies Should Be Required to Abide By 1st Amendment

Posted on July 5, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 13% disagree and 23% are not sure.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of Republicans believe the tech companies should be bound by the 1st Amendment. So do 57% of Democrats and 52% of Independents.

Among those who say social media is Very Important in their life, 75% want to see the tech giants required to provide free speech guarantees.

The survey also found that 61% of voters believe social media companies have an obligation to make positive contributions to our civic life.

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Methodology

68% Say Ensuring Social Media Fairness Tops Protecting Companies from Government Interference

Posted on July 5, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Those who consider social media Very Important in their lives are evenly divided: 48% say ensuring fairness is most important while 44% want to protect the companies from government interference. Other voters overwhelmingly believe it is more important to ensure that social media companies operate fairly for every citizen.

Those with a post-graduate degree are also more likely than other voters to place a premium on protecting the social media companies from government interference.

Seventy-two percent (72%) of White voters believe fairness is more important. That view is shared by 56% of Black voters and 54% of Hispanic voters.

Overall, among all voters, 61% believe social media companies—which are private businesses—have an obligation to make positive contributions to our civic life. Just 20% disagree.

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Methodology

41% Believe Giant Tech Companies Help Small Businesses

Posted on July 3, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Forty-one percent (41%) of voters believe big tech companies like Google and Facebook help small businesses. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 28% believe they hurt small businesses while 10% say they have no impact. Twenty-two percent (22%) are not sure.

Democrats, by a 2-to-1 margin, believe that the tech giants help small businesses. Republicans are evenly divided.

Perceptions on this question are closely tied to internet usage. Those who are online constantly are far more likely than others to believe that the tech giants help small business.

Those who say social media is very important in their lives believe the tech platforms help small business by a 69% to 14% margin. Those who say social media is not at all important take the opposite view by a 46% to 23% margin.

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Methodology