[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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