Americans divided on the balance between free speech and making others feel welcome online | Pew Research Center

July 6, 2017

4. The broader context of online harassment

Americans divided on the balance between free speech and making others feel welcome online

Americans divided on the balance between free speech and making others feel welcome online

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Americans divided on the balance between free speech and making others feel welcome online

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4. The broader context of online harassment
One-third of Americans have heard a great deal about online harassment; 62% view it as a major problem
Young women especially likely to view online harassment as a major problem
Larger share of internet users view the online environment as a space that facilitates anonymity than in 2014
Americans see positive as well as negative effects of anonymity
Online services, bystanders seen as having a major role to play in addressing online harassment
Americans with more awareness of online harassment expect greater involvement from various groups
Large majority of Americans support online platforms intervening when harassment occurs
Better policies/tools from online companies, stronger laws are seen as most effective ways to combat online harassment
Roughly half of those who have experienced severe forms of online harassment feel law enforcement does not take issue seriously enough
Americans divided on the balance between free speech and making others feel welcome online
Nearly three-quarters of young men feel offensive content online is taken too seriously