Pew Research: From AI Anxiety to Tipping Trends - 2023's Most Striking Insights
As 2023 draws to a close, Pew Research Center reflects on the year's defining headlines through the lens of its own groundbreaking research. From the burgeoning anxieties surrounding artificial intelligence to the ongoing debate over affirmative action in college admissions, this collection delves into the issues that shaped our national discourse. Join us as we revisit 16 of our most striking findings, offering a unique perspective on the year that was and a glimpse into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Marriage Trends: A record-high share of 40-year-olds in the U.S. have never been married, with a notable increase from 6% in 1980 to 25% in 2021. The Center survey revealed that Americans prioritize factors like job satisfaction and friendship over marriage for a fulfilling life. Only 23% find marriage extremely or very important.
AI Concerns: Approximately 52% of Americans feel more concerned than excited about the increased use of artificial intelligence in daily life, marking a 14% increase from the previous year.
Supreme Court Favorability: For the first time in over 30 years, Americans' views of the U.S. Supreme Court are more negative than positive, with 54% expressing an unfavorable opinion.
Government and False Information: A growing share (55%) of U.S. adults believe the federal government should restrict false information online, even if it limits freedom of information.
Gun Deaths among Children: The number of U.S. children and teens killed by gunfire rose by 50% in just two years, reaching the highest levels since at least 1999.
Chinese Americans' Views: Chinese Americans' views of China are more mixed compared to other Asian Americans, with only 41% having a favorable opinion.
Israel-Hamas Conflict: Even before the Israel-Hamas war, Israelis had become more skeptical of a two-state solution, with only 35% believing in peaceful coexistence.
Tipping: A majority of Americans say they would tip 15% or less for an average restaurant dining experience (57%), 2% wouldn’t leave a tip.
Twitter (X) Perceptions: Partisan views of Twitter (now called X) have shifted, with Republican users viewing it more positively and Democratic users more negatively after Elon Musk's takeover.
Unused Paid Time Off: Almost half (46%) of U.S. workers with paid time off don't take all the time offered, citing reasons like not feeling the need and concerns about falling behind at work.
Negative Sentiments on Politics: A significant majority (79%) of Americans express negative sentiments when describing politics in the United States, with terms like "divisive" and "corrupt" being commonly used.
Dreams of Dead Relatives: Around half of Americans report being visited by a dead family member in a dream or another form, with women more likely to report such experiences.
Views on College Admissions: More Americans disapprove than approve of colleges considering race and ethnicity in admissions decisions to increase diversity.
Science's Impact on Society: The share of Americans saying science has had a mostly positive impact on society has declined since 2019, with Democrats more positive than Republicans.
Unfavorable Opinion of Political Parties: Nearly three-in-ten Americans (28%) express an unfavorable opinion of both major political parties, the highest share in at least three decades.
TikTok as a National Security Threat: A majority (59%) of Americans see TikTok as a threat to national security, with differences in views based on partisanship and age.
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