Freedom Forum Survey Finds 90% of Americans Believe the First Amendment is Vital, yet Only 1 in 10 Can Name All Five Freedoms

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 25, 2025) — Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all Americans, today released the 2025 edition of “The First Amendment: Where America Stands.” The annual survey measures what Americans know, believe and experience about the First Amendment — and how those views have shifted over time.

This year’s survey, conducted in partnership with McKee Wallwork from Aug. 1-8, polled Americans on their knowledge of First Amendment freedoms, their personal experiences with free expression and their views on issues ranging from campus protests and AI censorship to religious freedom, hate speech and the role of the press.

Freedom Forum’s 2025 “Where America Stands” survey reveals that while Americans overwhelmingly believe in the importance of the First Amendment, confusion and gaps in understanding persist, especially around the freedoms it guarantees and how they apply to everyday life.

95% of Americans have heard of the First Amendment, and nine in 10 agree it is vital. Yet only 10% can name all five freedoms it protects — religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition — without prompting. A quarter of respondents couldn’t name a single freedom.

“Admiration for the First Amendment is strong, but understanding is lagging,” said Kevin Goldberg, vice president and First Amendment expert at Freedom Forum. “In today’s polarized environment, where debates over speech, protest and censorship dominate the headlines, these findings remind us that freedoms aren’t self-sustaining. They depend on Americans knowing, valuing and defending them.”

Other key findings from the 2025 survey:

• Without help, 73% of Americans could identify freedom of speech, while only 13% could identify freedom of petition.
• 65% of Americans say they are afraid to speak freely for fear of violence, job loss or tension with family and friends. This is down from 71% in 2024.
• Young people (Gen Z) are the most likely to self-censor, with 82% saying they’re afraid to speak freely.
• Millennials are the generation most likely to see President Donald Trump as a First Amendment protector; baby boomers are most likely to see him as a threat.
• Only 26% could identify freedom of assembly unaided, despite a year of high-profile protests.
• 28% of respondents say they were unclear on how the First Amendment affects their daily lives, a 5-point increase from last year.
• 52% of Americans are concerned about being censored by artificial intelligence.
• 49% believe parents should be able to opt their elementary school children out of reading certain books based on religious beliefs.
• Support for the press as a government watchdog has grown to 61%, up from 56% in 2024.

The survey also highlights demographic divides in how the First Amendment is valued and understood, with disparities across race, income and age. For example, lower-income Americans are less likely to identify lesser-known freedoms and more likely to say they are unclear on how the First Amendment impacts them.

These findings underscore why Freedom Forum invests in education, reporting and resources to help Americans not only admire the First Amendment but understand and use it in daily life. The First Amendment on Campus empowers college students with the knowledge to exercise their First Amendment freedoms on campus. The First Amendment Reporters initiative helps local reporters cover First Amendment topics with clarity and depth. The First Amendment Academy provides free online courses for learners of all ages. And the “Religion and Public Schools: A First Amendment Guide” helps educators and families understand religious freedom in public school settings.

Additional information on survey data and methodology is available on Freedom Forum’s website.