Family and friends are central to conversations across all demographics. Majorities of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, discuss what’s happening with their loved ones. Both Republicans and Democrats engage in these discussions equally, indicating a shared priority in personal relationships, said a new PEW Research Centre survey.
WORK AND SCHOOL IN DAILY CHATS
Nearly half of Americans (46%) talk frequently about jobs, work, or school with their family and close friends. This topic is more prevalent among younger adults under 50, with 58% engaging in these discussions compared to 32% of those aged 50 and older.
POP CULTURE: A GENERATIONAL DIVIDE
Younger adults are more inclined to talk about pop culture. Over four-in-ten (44%) under 50 discuss movies, TV shows, and other entertainment with family and friends. In contrast, only 30% of those 50 and older do the same. This highlights a significant generational divide in conversation topics.
PETS AND SPORTS: GENDER DIFFERENCES
Men and women show distinct preferences in their conversations. A third of Americans, including 39% of women and 27% of men, talk a lot about pets. Sports, on the other hand, are more commonly discussed by men (27%) compared to women (16%).
POLITICAL ISSUES: LIMITED DISCUSSION
Politics isn’t a dominant topic. Only about 18% of adults talk frequently about political issues. However, 58% mention politics occasionally. More Americans (30%) discuss national issues and problems than politics itself.
FEW PARTISAN DIFFERENCES IN CONVERSATION TOPICS
Republicans and Democrats largely agree on their conversation topics. Both groups similarly discuss family and friends, with 71% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents and 68% of Republicans and Republican leaners talking about these subjects.
RELIGION AND POP CULTURE: SLIGHT PARTISAN VARIATIONS
Slight differences emerge in discussions about religion and pop culture. Republicans are more likely to talk about faith and religion (24%) compared to Democrats (13%). Conversely, nearly half of Democrats (47%) discuss movies, TV shows, or music, whereas only about 28% of Republicans do.
CELEBRITIES: MINIMAL INTEREST
Celebrities and famous people are rarely a topic of conversation. Only 9% of Democrats and 3% of Republicans frequently discuss celebrities, showing minimal interest across the political spectrum.