[Opinion] Young Americans’ Support for Free Speech Has Declined

Young Americans’ Support for Free Speech Has Declined

Jacob Mchangama writes about how young Americans are less likely to support proactive or offensive speech. The post Opinion | From Defenders to Skeptics: Young Americans’ Support for Free Speech Has Sharply Declined appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.

The sharp decline in young Americans’ support for free speech - 3 Quarks Daily

Jacob Mchangama in The Conversation: For much of the 20th century, young Americans were seen as free speech’s fiercest defenders. But now, young Americans are growing more skeptical of free speech. According to a March 2025 report by The Future of Free Speech, a nonpartisan think tank where I am executive director, support among 18- to 34-year-olds for allowing controversial or offensive speech has dropped sharply in recent years. In 2021, 71% o…