News

Americans wary of Facebook power, survey shows

March 2, 2020 11:11 PM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

A large majority of Americans believe Facebook has "too much power" but many would be disappointed if the social networking giant disappeared, a survey showed Monday.

The "tech trust survey" for online technology news magazine The Verge found 72 percent thought Facebook's power was too extensive, even if their overall views of the company were mixed.

Nearly half of the 1,123 respondents expressed concerns over how Facebook handles private user data, the December survey showed. But 55 percent said they would be disappointed if it disappeared. There were a range of views, sometimes contradictory, on Big Tech, which has drawn increasing scrutiny for dominating key economic sectors, with antitrust probes in several parts of the world underway.

Roughly nine in 10 said they had "favorable" opinions of firms such as Google, Netflix and Microsoft. The percentage was 80 percent for Apple, 71 percent for Facebook and 61 percent for Twitter. A majority said Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple had a "positive" impact on society, but only 40 percent said the same for Facebook.

In the survey, 56 percent said the government should break up tech companies if they control too much of the economy. But fewer than half were aware that Google owns YouTube and that Facebook controls Instagram and WhatsApp.

But strong majorities said they would be disappointed if Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix or Apple disappeared. Microsoft led the pack in the number of Americans who say they trust it, at 75 percent, with Amazon at 73 percent.



Most Read

  1. Punjab governor appoints Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Aziz as PPSC Chairman Punjab governor appoints Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Aziz as PPSC Chairman
  2. 20 passengers perish in Chilas bus plunge 20 passengers perish in Chilas bus plunge
  3. Reason behind Shruti Haasan and Santanu Hazarika's separation after 4 years Reason behind Shruti Haasan and Santanu Hazarika's separation after 4 years
  4. Life is too short for leaks, Yashma Gill’s latest video ignites criticism Life is too short for leaks, Yashma Gill’s latest video ignites criticism
  5. Parineeti Chopra's husband Raghav Chadha undergoes ‘dangerous’ eye surgery in UK Parineeti Chopra's husband Raghav Chadha undergoes ‘dangerous’ eye surgery in UK
  6. Are Aftab Iqbal and Kapil Sharma coming together? Are Aftab Iqbal and Kapil Sharma coming together?

Opinion

  1. PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan
    PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan

    By Naveed Aman Khan

  2. Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties
    Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties

    By Nasim Zehra

  3. PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls
    PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls

    By News Desk

  4. Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity
    Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity

    By News Desk

  5. Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  
    Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  

    By Manzoor Qadir

  6. Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir
    Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir

    By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai