Western philosophy of the ideals of liberty and freedom permeate the foundations of American government and society. Yet these core principles and their interpretation has come to the forefront of domestic politics.

While some argue that the likes of white supremacist Richard Spencer and author Andrew Breitbart promote hate speech against minorities and should not be given a voice, others argue that the culture of political correctness bars us from free speech and debate.

This ideological rift is primarily age based, and forces us to consider the consequences of our generation’s perspective on our fundamental rights. While their opinions on other social issues such as sexuality and gender equality are significantly more progressive than their predecessors, younger adults were surprisingly less keen on full protection of free speech. A Pew Research Center survey found that 40% of those younger than 34 believe that the government should be able to control those who speak out against minorities, as opposed to 24% for previous generations.

The implications of this shift in opinion are widespread. The trend explains the numerous protests against right wing speakers such as Milo Yiannopoulos and Richard Spencer on college campuses. While older adults may call these acts restrictive of free speech and ‘PC,’ suggesting younger adults feel entitled to a “right to not be offended,” these protests continue to occur, another cropping up in the University of Florida. However, some of the more extreme protestors claimed otherwise.

ANTIFA, an anti fascist protest group that became prominent in these protests for its use of anonymity and causing damages and violence calls out authoritarian control “by any means necessary.” However, a restrictive opinion of free speech from its largest base, young people, may force the group to change its platform.

In regard to free speech and the NFL national anthem protests, while reports suggest that younger viewers sympathize more closely with the protesters’ right to kneel during the anthem than their critics, the shift away from free speech complicates our understanding of that. The selective choice of restricting free speech, barring white supremacists yet advocating for anti police brutality, may in fact support the fearful claims of older people that PC culture is treading on free speech.

If the new generation believes it has a right to selectively bar free speech as suits its political views, their original intent of protecting minorities from violent hate speech may become clouded by a more sinister culture of silencing dissenting opinion. Their opinion is mostly expressed through protests against hate speech and bigotry, and is protected under the first amendment. However, as more young adults move from high school and into the voter electorate, that protest may translate into actual policy. If the sanctity of free speech in our nation is to be protected, we must reconsider our evaluation of it and placing restrictions on it.