The big majority of People assume that the unfold of false data on-line is a “major threat” to the U.S., topping terrorism, the state of the worldwide economic system and local weather change, in accordance with a brand new survey.
The Pew Analysis Heart survey, printed Tuesday, discovered that 70 p.c of U.S. adults stated they view the unfold of false data on-line as a “major threat” to the nation. One other 24 p.c stated it’s a “minor threat,” whereas 5 p.c argued it isn’t a risk.
Many People additionally noticed terrorism (61 p.c), the situation of the worldwide economic system (60 p.c), local weather change (51 p.c) and the unfold of infectious ailments (50 p.c) as main threats to the nation, the ballot confirmed.
The notion of those threats trusted the respondent’s age and private politics, pollsters discovered.
Nearly all of self-identified Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents noticed all 5 points as a serious risk to the U.S., whereas Republicans and GOP-leaning voters didn’t have as a lot concern concerning the points, other than terrorism, in accordance with the ballot.
The stark divide was on local weather change, the place 78 p.c of Democrats stated it’s a main risk to the nation, in comparison with simply 24 p.c of Republicans. Democrats have been extra more likely to argue that the unfold of infectious ailments, false data on-line and the situation of the economic system are main threats to the nation in comparison with GOP respondents.
With regards to terrorism, Republicans have been extra more likely to say it’s a main risk to the U.S. (69 p.c to 53 p.c).
People ages 65 and older have been extra more likely to say the unfold of false data on-line, infectious ailments and terrorism are main threats to the nation, in comparison with these underneath the age of 30, in accordance with the survey.
The ballot was performed March 24-30 amongst 3,605 U.S. adults.
