The concept of free speech is under attack in America and the results of a new survey show that most Americans are aware of it. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), in collaboration with the Polarization Research Lab (PRL) at Dartmouth College, reveals a rather concerning reality: More than two-thirds of Americans believe the nation is moving in the wrong direction when it comes to the right to freedom of expression.

The findings of the poll shed light on growing concerns surrounding the rights protected by the First Amendment in today’s divided political climate.

According to FIRE’s press release, a substantial percentage of Americans do not believe that free speech is what it should be in the nation.

More than two-thirds of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track when it comes to freedom of speech, according to new survey results from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the Polarization Research Lab at Dartmouth College.

When asked about “whether people are able to freely express their views,” 69% of respondents said things in America are heading in the wrong direction, compared to only 31% who believe that things are heading in the right direction.

The poll also shows that only a quarter of Americans believe the right to freedom of speech is ‘very’ or ‘completely’ secure, and almost a third (29%) say it is not at all secure.

“The average American already thinks that free speech in America is in dire straits. Most worryingly, they think it will get worse,” said FIRE Chief Research Advisor Sean Stevens. “These findings should be a wake-up call for the nation to recommit to a vibrant free speech culture before it’s too late.”

Researchers also found an evident level of polarization in the survey’s findings, with nearly half of Democrats (49 percent) optimistic about free speech in America and only a quarter (26 percent) of Republican respondents sharing this view. “Polarization not only divides Americans on policy, but it fractures our assessments of the stability of the bedrock features of our democracy,” said Sean Westwood, Director of PRL.

This data is already disturbing enough, but it gets even worse. The survey also found that about a third of both Republican and Democrat respondents believe that the First Amendment “goes too far in the rights it guarantees.” This is not an encouraging sign for the future of free speech in America – especially if this percentage grows enough to elect anti-speech politicians.

The survey also assessed attitudes towards specific types of speech, with a surprising number expressing a reluctance to protect offensive speech. For example, about 52 percent of respondents said their community should prohibit public speeches expressing offensive sentiments such as “All whites are racist oppressors” or “America got what it deserved on 9/11.”

Researchers also explored attitudes towards specific forms of speech, uncovering a reluctance to protect speech deemed offensive by the respondents. For example, 52% of participants expressed that their community should not permit public speeches espousing beliefs they found most offensive, such as “All whites are racist oppressors,” “America got what it deserved on 9/11,” or “we shouldn’t ignore differences in IQ scores by race, ethnicity, and gender when making important decisions.”

However, there is still some reason for hope. The survey found that 72 percent of respondents indicated that people should not be fired for voicing controversial opinions.

This particular survey highlights the complexities in the national debate over speech. As the nation moves forward, society will face quite a challenge in fighting for a culture that values and protects freedom of expression. With the rise of cancel culture and a society constantly looking for reasons to be offended, the threat to speech is palpable.

While it is tempting to view this issue through the prism of government, the concept of free speech is more of a cultural matter – at least while the First Amendment still stands. Those who favor freedom of expression must ramp up their efforts to emphasize to the public why it is so important that people be free to voice their views without worrying about institutions seeking to silence them. Otherwise, it won’t be too long before authoritarian elements sell the populace on the idea of modifying the First Amendment in a way that makes us less free.