84% of Voters Fear Online Radicalization Is Fueling Political Violence

Public Concern Over Growing Extremism
A new Rasmussen Reports national survey reveals that 84% of likely U.S. voters are concerned that social media and other online platforms may be radicalizing young people toward political violence. Over half of respondents—54%—say they are very concerned, while only 12% say they aren’t worried.

The poll follows the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose accused assailant, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, allegedly acted alone during an appearance at a Utah college campus event last month.

Diverging Views on Government Response
Only 17% of voters believe the government is doing enough to stop political violence, while 64% say federal action is insufficient. Majorities across all political groups—72% of Democrats, 53% of Republicans, and 68% of independents—agree that the government isn’t doing enough to address the issue.

Online Influence Cuts Across Party Lines
Concerns about online radicalization are widespread: 88% of Republicans, 83% of Democrats, and 82% of unaffiliated voters say they are at least somewhat concerned about digital platforms contributing to political extremism.

Older voters expressed the highest level of concern, with those over 65 most likely to say they are very concerned about the issue.

Survey Details
The Rasmussen survey, conducted September 29–October 1 among 1,152 likely voters, has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.