The Rise of Self-Censorship in America

Abstract

This paper provides new data and analysis of the increasing trend of self-censorship among Americans from 1954 to 2023. Drawing upon a nationally representative survey, it reveals that 48% of Americans in 2023 feel less free to express their opinions, a slight increase from 46% in 2020. This trend is placed in historical context, showing a stark contrast with the 1950s, where only 13.4% felt a restriction in expressing their views despite the Red Scare's potential repercussions. The paper explores various hypotheses for this rise in self-censorship, including affective polarization and support for civil liberties. Self-censorship is connected to affective polarization among the mass public, with greater polarization associated with more self-censorship. Levels of mass opposition to full civil liberties bear no relationship to self-censorship. This study highlights the significant implications of widespread self-censorship for the health of democracy in the United States, emphasizing the need to reduce the costs of expressing dissenting views to foster a more vibrant democracy.

Keywords: political intolerance; freedom of speech; political repression