A majority of those polled say privacy and bias concerns mean last week's bombshell merger between America Online and Time Warner isn't necessarily good for the United States, according to Newsweek.
The magazine poll shows only 25 percent of those surveyed think the deal is good for the country with 18 percent saying the deal is good for them personally. Meanwhile, the poll showed 56 percent of those responding saying they're "somewhat concerned" the new company "will have too much information about the(ir) viewing, buying, and online communications," Newsweek says. And 54 percent of those polled say they're "very or somewhat concerned" Time Warner news and publications "won't be as accurate or unbiased when they report on one another or on the areas in which the new merged company operates," the magazine says.
But the magazine says an analysis shows younger people a lot more positive about the AOL/Time Warner merger. The poll also shows almost half of those questioned fearing such mergers mean higher consumer prices and lower care for company workers, while 31 percent said there's a better choice of products and services while 29 percent said the choices are worse, Newsweek says.
The poll appears as part of the Jan. 24 issue of Newsweek's cover story showing how the deal was made and profiling the mastermind of the deal, AOL Chairman Steve Case.
