Public views are tied to how these technologies would be used and what constraints would be in place.
Trust in scientists and medical scientists has fallen below pre-pandemic levels, with 29% of U.S. adults saying they have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists to act in the best interests of the public. This is down from 40% in November 2020 and 35% in January 2019, before COVID-19 emerged. Other prominent groups – including the military, police officers and public school principals – have also seen their ratings decline.
While views of and experiences with police vary substantially across demographic groups, there is support for a number of police reforms.
Many experts say public online spaces will significantly improve by 2035 if reformers, big technology firms, governments and activists tackle the problems created by misinformation, disinformation and toxic discourse. Others expect continuing troubles as digital tools and forums are used to exploit people’s frailties, stoke their rage and drive them apart.
Pew Research Center’s political typology provides a roadmap to today’s fractured political landscape. It organizes the public into nine distinct groups, based on an analysis of their attitudes and values. Even in a polarized era, the 2021 survey reveals deep divisions in both partisan coalitions.
The U.S. is seen positively in advanced economies for its technology, entertainment, military and universities, but negatively for its health care system, discrimination and the state of its democracy.
While Americans see some aspects of U.S. power more positively than people elsewhere, they offer more negative views in other areas.
Amid mounting public concern about violent crime in the U.S., Americans’ attitudes about police funding in their own community have shifted.
Veterans and non-veterans in the United States largely align when it comes to the decision to pull all troops out of Afghanistan.
Currently, 55% of U.S. adults express at least some support for the Black Lives Matter movement, unchanged from a year ago.
