A large share of Americans (88%) – including about nine-in-ten each among White, Black, Republican and Democratic adults – say they have personally seen videos of police violence against Black people in the news, on social media or in some other way.
In general, Americans’ views are mixed as to whether these videos being widely shared is a good development. Some 45% say this is a good thing, while 29% say it’s a bad thing and 24% say it’s neither good nor bad.
Views of the impact of these videos differ widely along demographic and partisan lines, with roughly two-thirds of Black adults and Democrats saying the sharing of these videos is a good thing.
Impact on policing
Americans see these videos as having a mixed impact on policing.
Most (63%) say the wide reach of these videos makes it a lot or somewhat easier to hold police officers accountable, while 12% say this makes it harder.
At the same time, a majority (54%) say these videos being widely shared makes it a lot or somewhat harder for police officers to do their jobs; 11% say this makes it easier.
Views by race and ethnicity
Majorities across racial and ethnic groups say these videos being widely shared makes it easier to hold police officers accountable, but Black adults are the most likely to say this makes it a lot easier (36% of Black adults vs. 26% of Hispanic adults, 24% of Asian adults and 22% of White adults).
White adults are the only group in which a majority say the sharing of these videos make it harder for police officers to do their jobs; 64% of White adults say this, compared with 46% of Asian adults, 43% of Hispanic adults and 23% of Black adults.
Views by party
Partisans are divided on the impact of these videos being widely shared, even after accounting for differences in the racial and ethnic composition of the Republican and Democratic parties.
Democrats and Democratic leaners are more likely than Republicans and GOP leaners to say these videos make it easier to hold police officers accountable (76% vs. 50%). Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say these videos make it harder to do this (17% vs. 8%) or that they don’t make a difference (32% vs. 15%).
Republicans are about twice as likely as Democrats to say these videos make it harder for police officers to do their job (74% vs. 38%). About half of Democrats say this makes it neither easier nor harder, compared with 19% of Republicans.
Impact of watching videos of police violence
Among adults who have watched videos of police violence against Black people, 60% say it has had a very or somewhat negative impact on their trust in the police, while 48% say it has had a negative impact on their sense of safety and 45% say the same about their mental health. These assessments also differ by race, ethnicity and political party.
Views by race and ethnicity
Black adults who have watched these videos are the most likely to report negative impacts on their trust in police, sense of safety and mental health.
About eight-in-ten Black adults say watching these videos has had a negative impact on their trust in the police, compared with 67% of Hispanic adults, 66% of Asian adults and 55% of White adults.
Three-quarters of Black adults report negative impacts on their sense of safety, compared with 61% of Hispanic adults, 60% of Asian adults and 39% of White adults.
Most Black adults (63%) say watching these videos has had a negative impact on their mental health, compared with half or fewer of Hispanic (50%), Asian (46%) and White (40%) adults.
Views by party
Democrats who have watched these videos are more likely than Republicans who have done so to say the videos have had a negative impact on their trust in police (80% vs. 38%), their sense of safety (61% vs. 33%) and their mental health (60% vs. 29%).
