Study: Nearly half of Millennials not on board with free speech

Taylor Maycan | USA TODAY

While Millennials tend to think of themselves as more progressive and forward-thinking than other generations, a recent survey suggests that some of them, at least, are not always advocates of the First Amendment.

According to a study from the Pew Research Center, 40% of people surveyed between the ages of 18 and 34 think offensive statements made about minorities should be federally regulated. Fifty-eight percent, however, defended First Amendment rights.

Free speech -- on college campuses, in particular -- has proved a highly contentious topic as of late. After student protests, which began at the University of Missouri in early November, spread nationwide in a call for administrations to address racial inequalities on campuses, there have been those decrying what they feel is a tendency to favor censorship over differing viewpoints.



RELATED: Missouri controversy highlights academia's free speech struggle

A recent petition posted by a group of Princeton University students on Change.org, for instance, argues “free speech is fundamental to Princeton’s role as an institution of higher learning and excessive political correctness stifles academic discourse.”

It’s worth noting, however, that the Millennial response is indicative of a larger pattern. The survey, released Nov. 20, shows support for free speech has declined with each subsequent generation.

Only 12% of the Silent Generation, those between the ages of 70 and 87, said they support censoring offensive speech relating to minorities. The Boomers – ages 51 through 69 – clocked in at 24%, and members of Gen X at 27%.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.