Social Media Ban...temporary social media bans, most people consider it an ineffective policy option. The majority of global citizens (71%) do not believe that a temporary ban would

© 2019 Ipsos. All rights reserved. Contains Ipsos' Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be disclosed or reproduced without the prior written consent of Ipsos.

Social Media Ban

2© 2019 Ipsos

Background and Questionnaire Preamble

After terrorists killed more than 300 people in coordinated attacks on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka in April, the government immediately shut down all social media in an attempt to halt the spread of false information and prevent further inflaming an already tense situation.

3© 2019 Ipsos

Should Governments be Allowed to Shut Down Social Media Platforms?• It depends …. on the argument you make. Six in ten global citizens say that it is acceptable to

temporarily cut off access to social media platforms during times of crisis to prevent the spread of misinformation. But, the exact same proportion also agree that temporarily cutting off social media platforms at times of crisis is unacceptable because social media is the primary source of news and information for many people.

• While the survey shows the differences between countries where people are more supportive of temporary social media bans, most people consider it an ineffective policy option. The majority of global citizens (71%) do not believe that a temporary ban would be effective because there are so many ways to work around social media bans.

© 2019 Ipsos 4

Support for Banning Social Media

5© 2019 Ipsos

Support for Banning Social Media• Six in ten global citizens agree that it is acceptable to temporarily cut off social media platforms in times

of crisis to stop the spread of false information. The same proportion say it would be acceptable if there was a terrorist attack.

– Countries most supportive of a social media ban during a crisis include: India (88%), Malaysia (75%), Saudi Arabia (73%), China(72%) and Great Britain (69%).

• While some support exists for a temporary shut down of social media, only half of global citizens surveyed say that they trust their national government to decide when and if it's appropriate to shut down social media platforms. The same proportion say that they trust social media companies to ensure that the content on their platforms is factual during times of crisis.

6© 2019 Ipsos

21%46%27%30%22%25%25%22%23%26%24%18%21%16%28%20%16%21%23%19%19%14%11%16%19%7%16%18%

39%42%

48%43%

50%44%40%

43%40%

37%38%

43%39%

44%31%

38%42%

34%32%

35%35%

39%41%

35%32%

43%33%

29%

60%88%

75%73%

72%69%

65%65%

63%63%

62%61%

60%60%

59%58%58%

55%55%

54%54%

53%52%

51%51%

50%49%

47%

ALL COUNTRIESINDIA

MALAYSIASAUDI ARABIA

CHINAGREAT BRITAIN

AUSTRALIAUS

CANADAFRANCERUSSIA

BELGIUMGERMANY

ITALYTURKEY

SWEDENSPAINPERU

SOUTH AFRICABRAZIL

CHILEPOLAND

SOUTH KOREAHUNGARY

MEXICOJAPANSERBIA

ARGENTINA

More than half of global citizens agree it is acceptable to temporarily cut off social media platforms during a time of crisis.

For each of the following please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree: Temporarily cutting off social media platforms is acceptable at times of crisis to stop the spread of false information.

STRONGLY AGREE SOMEWHAT AGREE (NET) AGREE

Base: 19,823 adults aged 16-64 across Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United States.

Agreement with temporarily cutting off social media platforms

is significantly lower among global citizens with higher levels of

education.

7© 2019 Ipsos

24%50%41%29%28%30%27%26%25%24%19%24%27%20%29%24%17%21%23%21%22%21%18%9%23%20%12%0%

35%35%

36%47%

39%36%

38%37%

38%38%

42%37%

31%37%

28%32%

39%35%

32%31%

30%30%

33%42%

27%28%

34%0%

59%85%

77%76%

67%66%

65%63%63%

62%61%61%

58%57%57%

56%56%56%

55%52%52%

51%51%51%

50%48%

46%

ALL COUNTRIESINDIA

SAUDI ARABIAMALAYSIA

AUSTRALIAGREAT BRITAIN

FRANCERUSSIA

USCANADA

ITALYSPAIN

SOUTH AFRICABELGIUM

TURKEYGERMANY

POLANDSWEDEN

BRAZILMEXICO

PERUCHILE

HUNGARYJAPANSERBIA

ARGENTINASOUTH KOREA

CHINA

Most would also support a temporary social media ban to stop the flow of fake news, in the event of a massive terrorist attack.

(not asked in China)

For each of the following please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree:If there was a massive terrorist attack in my country I would support a temporary social media ban to stop the flow of fake news.



Global citizens with higher levels of education are

significantly less supportive of a social

media ban.

8© 2019 Ipsos

Global citizens are divided in terms of their trust in government to decide the appropriate time to shut down social media platforms

16%42%37%19%18%20%13%12%15%11%13%14%14%14%18%25%5%14%18%15%15%15%11%5%12%13%13%0%

36%38%

38%55%

42%38%

44%44%

41%43%

41%40%38%38%

34%27%

43%33%

29%30%28%28%

32%37%

29%25%22%

0%

52%80%

75%74%

60%58%

57%56%56%

54%54%54%

52%52%52%52%

48%47%47%

45%43%43%43%

42%41%

38%35%

ALL COUNTRIESINDIA

SAUDI ARABIAMALAYSIA

AUSTRALIARUSSIA

ITALYGREAT BRITAIN

CANADABELGIUM

SPAINSWEDENFRANCE

GERMANYPERU

TURKEYJAPAN

USMEXICO

BRAZILCHILE

SERBIAPOLAND

SOUTH KOREAHUNGARY

SOUTH AFRICAARGENTINA

CHINA (not asked in China)

For each of the following please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree:I trust my national government to decide when and if it's appropriate to shut down social media platforms in times of crisis.



9© 2019 Ipsos

14%43%19%17%23%27%15%15%15%12%19%18%18%20%13%14%5%14%4%6%9%9%3%11%8%9%7%7%

35%41%

47%47%

38%32%

44%44%44%

46%38%

39%35%

31%36%

34%42%

32%35%

32%28%28%

33%24%

26%25%

25%21%

49%84%

66%64%

61%59%59%59%59%

58%57%57%

53%51%

49%48%

47%46%

39%38%

37%37%

36%35%

34%34%

32%28%

ALL COUNTRIESRUSSIA

PERUCHINAINDIA

SAUDI ARABIAHUNGARY

ITALYMALAYSIA

POLANDMEXICO

SPAINTURKEY

SOUTH AFRICAARGENTINA

BRAZILSOUTH KOREA

CHILEBELGIUM

SERBIAAUSTRALIAGERMANY

JAPANUS

FRANCESWEDENCANADA

GREAT BRITAIN

Most indicate that they do not trust social media companies to ensure the factuality of the content on their platforms.

For each of the following please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree:I trust the social media companies to ensure that the content that is shared on their platforms during times of crisis is factual.



Trust in social media companies is

significantly lower among those with

higher levels of education.

© 2019 Ipsos 10

Bans Are Not Acceptable

11© 2019 Ipsos

Social Media Bans are Not Acceptable and Will Not Work• Comparable to the proportion who support social media bans, six in ten global citizens also agree that it

is unacceptable to temporarily cut off social media during times of crisis, given the reliance on these platforms for news and information. The majority agrees that social media is not the best or most accurate source of information, but people are capable of separating fact from fiction on these platforms.

– Countries least supportive of temporarily cutting off social media during a crisis include: Peru (74%), Turkey (74%), Mexico (71%), China (70%) and Saudi Arabia (70%).

• In fact, the largest proportion indicates that there are ways around social media bans, and therefore they would not work effectively.

12© 2019 Ipsos

23%38%43%35%19%28%27%26%19%32%27%30%23%24%20%24%16%25%24%14%20%15%21%19%16%10%14%15%

39%36%

31%36%

51%42%

40%41%

48%34%

38%34%

41%39%

42%37%

45%35%

35%44%

37%42%

35%36%

38%42%

37%32%

62%74%74%

71%70%70%

67%67%67%

66%65%

64%64%

63%62%

61%61%

60%59%

58%57%57%

56%55%

54%52%

51%47%

ALL COUNTRIESPERU

TURKEYMEXICO

CHINASAUDI ARABIA

SERBIAARGENTINA

ITALYSOUTH AFRICA

RUSSIACHILESPAIN

HUNGARYPOLAND

INDIAMALAYSIA

BRAZILGERMANY

SOUTH KOREAUS

BELGIUMSWEDEN

AUSTRALIACANADA

JAPANGREAT BRITAIN

FRANCE

Given the reliance on social media for news and information, six in ten agree it is unacceptable for these platforms to be temporarily shut off during times of crisis.

For each of the following please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree:Temporarily cutting off social media platforms at times of crisis is unacceptable because they are the primary source of news and information for many people.



13© 2019 Ipsos

18%19%31%36%27%29%28%20%19%17%24%21%13%19%21%22%14%12%10%14%12%11%12%12%11%12%13%5%

36%52%

37%30%

37%35%

35%40%

41%42%

32%35%

41%34%

31%29%

36%37%

39%34%

36%34%

33%33%

34%32%

30%36%

54%71%

68%66%

64%64%

63%60%60%

59%56%56%

54%53%

52%51%

50%49%49%

48%48%

45%45%45%45%

44%43%

41%

ALL COUNTRIESCHINA

PERUTURKEYRUSSIA

SAUDI ARABIAMEXICO

INDIASPAIN

POLANDCHILE

SOUTH AFRICAMALAYSIA

BRAZILARGENTINA

SERBIAHUNGARY

ITALYSOUTH KOREA

USSWEDEN

AUSTRALIABELGIUM

GERMANYGREAT BRITAIN

CANADAFRANCE

JAPAN

Over half agree that people are capable of separating fact from fiction, and would not support a temporary social media ban.

For each of the following please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree:I think that most people are capable of separating fact from fiction, so I would not support a temporary social media ban to stop the flow of fake news.



Those with higherlevels of education are significantly less likely to agree that people

are capable of separating fact from

fiction.

14© 2019 Ipsos

Fewer are in agreement that social media platforms provide the best and most accurate news or information.

13%30%28%23%25%21%21%10%15%15%12%16%13%16%11%8%11%9%7%6%7%2%10%5%5%8%5%0%

32%39%

40%41%

33%36%35%

41%36%36%

38%32%

34%31%

36%34%

29%27%

28%29%

26%31%

23%27%27%

22%22%

0%

45%69%

68%64%

58%57%

56%51%51%51%

50%48%

47%47%47%

42%40%

36%35%35%

33%33%33%

32%32%

30%27%

ALL COUNTRIESSAUDI ARABIA

PERUMEXICOTURKEY

INDIACHILE

MALAYSIARUSSIA

SOUTH AFRICASPAIN

ARGENTINASERBIABRAZIL

POLANDITALY

FRANCEAUSTRALIAGERMANYHUNGARYBELGIUM

JAPANSWEDENCANADA

SOUTH KOREAUS

GREAT BRITAINCHINA

For each of the following please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree:In my country social media platforms are the best, most accurate sources of news and information.



(not asked in China)

Those with higherlevels of education are significantly less likely

to agree that social media platforms are

superior news sources.

15© 2019 Ipsos

Global citizens are in strongest agreement that there are many ways around social media bans, and therefore question their effectiveness.

22%44%23%28%32%30%18%18%28%29%26%35%19%24%15%16%14%26%16%16%19%17%19%13%23%18%18%10%

49%37%

57%50%

46%48%

59%58%

46%45%

48%38%

54%48%

56%55%

57%44%

53%53%

50%51%

49%53%

42%45%45%

48%

71%81%

80%78%78%78%

77%76%

74%74%74%

73%73%

72%71%71%71%

70%69%69%69%

68%68%

66%65%

63%63%

58%

ALL COUNTRIESTURKEY

POLANDARGENTINA

PERURUSSIA

ITALYGREAT BRITAIN

CHILEMEXICOSERBIA

SAUDI ARABIASPAININDIA

CHINAUS

BELGIUMBRAZIL

CANADAMALAYSIA

SOUTH AFRICAAUSTRALIA

FRANCEJAPAN

HUNGARYGERMANY

SWEDENSOUTH KOREA

For each of the following please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree:There are many ways around social media bans, so they will never be effective.



16© 2019 Ipsos

Methodology• These are the findings of the Global Advisor Wave 128,

an Ipsos survey conducted between May 24th and June 7th, 2019.

• The survey instrument is conducted monthly in 27 countries around the world via the Ipsos Online Panel system. The countries reporting herein are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United States of America.

• For the results of the survey presented herein, an international sample of 19,823 adults aged 18-74 in the US, South Africa, Turkey and Canada, and age 16-74 in all other countries, were interviewed.

• Approximately 1000+ individuals participated on a country by country basis via the Ipsos Online Panel. The precision of Ipsos online polls are calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.1 percentage points and of 500 accurate to +/- 4.5 percentage points. For more information on the Ipsos use of credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website.

• 15 of the 27 countries surveyed online generate nationally representative samples in their countries (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and United States).

• Brazil, Chile, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Russia,, Serbia, South Africa and Turkey produce a national sample that is more urban & educated, and with higher incomes than their fellow citizens. We refer to these respondents as “Upper Deck Consumer Citizens”. They are not nationally representative of their country.

• Where results do not sum to 100, this may be due to computer rounding, multiple responses or the exclusion of don't knows or not stated responses.

17

ABOUT IPSOS

Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry. With a strong presence in 87 countries, Ipsos employs more than 16,000 people and has the ability to conduct research programs in more than 100 countries. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is controlled and managed by research professionals. They have built a solid Group around a multi-specialist positioning – Media and advertising research; Marketing research; Client and employee relationship management; Opinion & social research; Mobile, Online, Offline data collection and delivery.

Ipsos is listed on Eurolist – NYSE – Euronext. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP

www.ipsos.com

GAME CHANGERS

At Ipsos we are passionately curious about people, markets, brands and society. We deliver information and analysis that makes our complex world easier and faster to navigate and inspires our clients to make smarter decisions.

We believe that our work is important. Security, simplicity, speed and substance applies to everything we do.

Through specialisation, we offer our clients a unique depth of knowledge and expertise. Learning from different experiences gives us perspective and inspires us to boldly call things into question, to be creative.

By nurturing a culture of collaboration and curiosity, we attract the highest calibre of people who have the ability and desire to influence and shape the future.

“GAME CHANGERS” – our tagline – summarises our ambition.

http://www.ipsos.com/

Documents

Social Media Ban...temporary social media bans, most people consider it an ineffective policy option. The majority of global citizens (71%) do not believe that a temporary ban would