Support among young people for allowing controversial or offensive speech has dropped sharply

Support among young people for allowing controversial or offensive speech has dropped sharply.
J Studios/Getty Images
Jacob Mchangama, Vanderbilt University

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...