Global Survey Reveals Broad Support for Social Media Moderation

A study across ten countries finds widespread concern over online hate and misinformation, with most favoring stricter content controls on social platforms.

A survey conducted by researchers from the Technical University of Munich and the University of Oxford polled 13,500 people in ten countries, including the US, Germany, and Brazil.
Over 80% of respondents supported the removal of violent or inciteful content from social media, with the highest support in Germany, Brazil, and Slovakia (86%).
Only 14% of participants believed that online threats of violence should remain visible to allow counterarguments, reflecting limited public tolerance for such content.
The findings highlight cultural differences in attitudes toward moderation, with stronger preferences for platform responsibility in Europe compared to the US.
The study warns that unchecked hate speech and misinformation risk normalizing harmful societal behaviors, undermining democratic norms and values.