Most in the UK believe free thinking is becoming harder
Three in four people in the UK believe it is becoming harder to think freely in today’s society, new polling by The Independent reveals, reports BritPanorama.
To mark its 40th anniversary, the title, which promotes free thinking and encourages readers to form their own views, asked the British public what it means to be a free thinker and how that is changing.
The findings show that a significant majority—81 per cent—consider themselves to be a free thinker to some degree. However, a changing media landscape and the ubiquity of social media mean most believe it is increasingly difficult to form and hold one’s own views.
Bill Browder, a financier and political activist who has openly challenged Vladimir Putin, told The Independent: “Forty years ago, the challenge for a free thinker was finding information. Today it’s filtering it.”
“We have more access to dissenting ideas than ever before, but also more pressure to sort ourselves into camps before we’ve finished thinking. Independent thought used to mean going against the crowd. Now it means recognising the extraordinary array of vested interests which would seek to divide us through algorithms and disinformation.”
Thinking freely may sound abstract, but it is as simple as thinking without restraint, according to Dr Edward Swidelsky, a philosophy professor from the University of Exeter. “The phrase free thought originally meant not being bound by religious dogmas,” he said. “Now, it’s used more broadly to mean anyone who thinks in a way that isn’t constrained by presuppositions of whatever kind. They could be religious or political.”
In conjunction with its 40th anniversary, The Independent has released a list of 40 free thinkers and conducted a survey with 1,032 participants.
Almost half (42 per cent) strongly identify as free thinkers, while few completely reject the label (only 4 per cent say they think less or not at all). However, 13 per cent acknowledge striving to think independently but find it challenging.
Three quarters of people assert that it is getting harder to think freely, with social media, news media, and influencers viewed as having the greatest impact on individuals’ abilities to think freely today.
Interestingly, younger generations (aged 18-45) are far more likely to believe it is easier to think freely than older generations (46 and above). Respondents also express that the increasing sense of polarisation in modern society poses a challenge to free thinking.
Nearly three in four people feel that those who identify as free thinkers have become more polarising and divided when discussing contentious issues over the past decade. When asked which public figures they would consider synonymous with free thinking, respondents did not identify a single person.
Instead, individuals perceived as challenging convention, whether through politics, science, business, or independent media, were mentioned—including polarising figures.
Prominent politicians featured prominently, including Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Barack Obama, Jeremy Corbyn, and Bernie Sanders. The results suggest a free thinker is viewed as someone willing to challenge the status quo, rather than someone whose views align with a specific ideology.
Elon Musk repeatedly emerged as a strong association, described by respondents as a champion of free speech who challenges conventional thinking despite his often controversial opinions, including support for the far-right AfD in Germany.
Media personalities are also notable, reflecting shifts beyond traditional institutions. Respondents mention US podcasters Joe Rogan and Jordan Peterson, documentary-maker Louis Theroux, actor Stephen Fry, and radio host James O’Brien as individuals who question mainstream narratives and promote debate.
Strikingly, very few women are identified as free thinkers. Dr Robert Simpson, a professor of philosophy at UCL, notes that this lack of recognition is consistent with historical trends.
“There’s been a big move in academia of late to credit Harriet Taylor (John Stuart Mill’s wife) as an official co-author of Mill’s 19th-century classic text of philosophical liberalism, On Liberty,” he states. “So, there’s an interesting connection there. Women throughout history who have been spirited advocates for free thinking haven’t always been credited similarly to men.”
Regarding challenges to free thinking, the majority of respondents believe misinformation and social media pressure are significant threats.
Social media algorithms are viewed by many as reinforcing bubbles rather than broadening perspectives, with 58 per cent feeling they entrench views further. Only 12 per cent believe algorithms promote open-mindedness.
The conviction that algorithms hinder free thinking is notably stronger among older generations—63 per cent of those aged 46 to 61 and 68 per cent of those aged 62 to 80 expressed this view, compared to 53 per cent of younger respondents (18 to 45).
Dr Simpson explains that social media has instilled fear regarding free thought: “We’re in a technological environment that’s radically increased the quantity of speech we’re exposed to, and that’s made us radically more monitorable and criticisable than people a few decades ago. We’re living in the digital panopticon, and it’s a stifling and scary place to live.”
He adds that it is unsurprising that polarising figures dominate the contemporary landscape of perceived free thinkers. “Where most of us feel like the digital panopticon makes us go into our shells, some people seem to thrive in that environment.”
When it comes to traditional media sources, the BBC stands out as the organisation (30 per cent) most strongly associated with encouraging independent thought. However, many respondents criticise the BBC for perceived bias, describing it as the organisation that should promote independent thinking but often falls short.
Both The Independent and The Guardian are frequently mentioned, praised for balanced reporting and providing evidence rather than instructing readers on what to think.
Founded in 1986 free from political party allegiance and proprietor influence, The Independent prides itself on facilitating audiences’ freedom to form and express their own opinions.
In terms of news consumption, Google search is the primary method for most respondents (56 per cent), with YouTube and Facebook following closely (46 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively). Instagram, TikTok, X, and podcasts have all surpassed direct news website consumption.
Gen-Z leads in using Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for news, while Facebook is favoured by millennials. Baby boomers are the most likely group (62 per cent) to directly access news websites compared to only 5 per cent of Gen-Z, 10 per cent of millennials, and 29 per cent of Gen X.
Crucially, 94 per cent say they consider bias when consuming information to identify anything that may hinder their ability to think freely. However, less than half actively check the evidence and sources provided or take time to reflect on and challenge their assumptions and biases.
The Independent and the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) have launched a new film festival as part of the paper’s 40th anniversary celebrations. Celebrating Free Thinkers will feature a series of specially curated events and screenings.
