Awareness of current regulation of media content

Respondents in the Digital Australians survey were more aware that traditional media such as free-to-air television and radio were regulated, with about three-quarters or more believing there were guidelines in place. There was a greater level of uncertainty about subscription television (possibly due to lower levels of familiarity), although over half (54 per cent) of all respondents still indicated that they thought there were guidelines for this medium.

Source: ACMA, Digital Australians online survey, 2011.
E5 ASK ALL: Are there any rules or guidelines that currently apply to content broadcast on television, on the radio or available on the internet? S/R PER ITEM RANDOMISE.
Base: Total sample, n=1,250.

In contrast, less than a quarter (24 per cent) of respondents thought there were guidelines in place governing content on the internet. Almost half (46 per cent) were unsure, while 30 per cent thought there were no such guidelines.

More about attitudes to, and expectations of, media regulation is available in chapter 5 of Digital Australians.