Overall, however, Americans are conflicted about the idea of these disturbing images being available online. By a 49%-40% margin, Americans disapprove of the posting of such images. Broken up into demographic categories, however, opinion varies widely.
A strong cultural divide emerges between Internet users and non-users: Internet users approve of the images being online by a small margin of 47% - 44%, while non-users disapprove by an overwhelming 58% - 29% margin.
The data show that millions of Internet users want to be able to view the graphic war images and they see the Internet as an alternative source of news and information from traditional media. But many who do venture outside the traditional and familiar standards of the mainstream news organizations to look at the images online end up feeling very uncomfortable. The Pew survey indicates, however, that less than 20% of respondents viewed war images unintentionally.
US Adults' Opinions of Online Display of Graphic War Images (% of respondents)
Approve | Disapprove | |
Men | 53% | 36% |
Women | 29 | 61 |
Under age 30 | 52 | 41 |
Over age 30 | 37 | 51 |
College or grad degree | 47 | 43 |
High school or less | 34 | 55 |
HH income over $50,000 | 52 | 40 |
HH income less than $50,000 | 35 | 55 |
Internet user | 47 | 44 |
Non-internet user | 29 | 58 |
Democrats | 52 | 41 |
Republicans | 42 | 49 |
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