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Attitudes towards social media conduct

6 Aug 2019

Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the use of platforms like Facebook and Google?

  NET: Agree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
I am concerned how Facebook and Google collect and use my personal information 80% 49% 31% 8% 5% 8%
There should be tighter regulation of online platforms like Facebook and Google 80% 48% 32% 6% 6% 9%
Platforms like Facebook and Google are responsible if deliberately misleading and harmful news stories are distributed on their platforms 75% 41% 34% 10% 4% 11%
A specialist body is needed to oversee the operations of Facebook and Google 75% 39% 36% 7% 5% 13%
I am not interested how companies like Facebook and Google use my personal data to target ads to me when I’m using their platforms 31% 12% 19% 24% 37% 8%
  • Four-fifths of participants agreed that there should be tighter regulation of online platforms like Facebook and Google, and are concerned with how Facebook and Google collect and use their personal information (both 80%).
  • A further three-quarters of participants agreed that platforms like Facebook and Google are responsible if deliberately misleading and harmful news stories are distributed on their platforms, and a specialist body is needed to oversee the operations of Facebook and Google (both 75%).
NET: Agree Total Gender Age
Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
There should be tighter regulation of online platforms like Facebook and Google 80% 78% 81% 69% 81% 87%
I am not interested how companies like Facebook and Google use my personal data to target ads to me when I’m using their platforms 31% 33% 30% 39% 32% 24%
I am concerned how Facebook and Google collect and use my personal information 80% 78% 81% 74% 82% 83%
Platforms like Facebook and Google are responsible if deliberately misleading and harmful news stories are distributed on their platforms 75% 73% 76% 68% 74% 81%
A specialist body is needed to oversee the operations of Facebook and Google 75% 77% 74% 69% 74% 81%
Base (n) 1,102 543 559 348 374 380
  • Participants over 55 years old were more likely to agree that there should be tighter regulation of online platforms like Facebook and Google (87% compared to 76% of 18-54 year olds), these platforms are responsible if deliberately misleading and harmful news stories are distributed on them (81% compared to 71%), and a specialist body is needed to oversee the operations of Facebook and Google (81% compared to 72% of 18-54 year olds).
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