1. The election’s outcome drives Americans to tune out political news and switch social media platforms.
Now that the U.S. presidential election is over, more than half of U.S. adults say they are ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ likely to take a break from political content by disconnecting from social media and the news. Unsurprising to see given how many Americans felt fatigued by political news in the final days of the election cycle.
The election also appears to have influenced the social media platforms respondents prefer to use. Roughly one-quarter of U.S. adults say they have considered changing – or have already changed – the social media platforms they visit as a result of the election outcome. This percentage rises to one-third among respondents who identify as Democrats. Access the report to see the complete data, including breakdowns by age.
Join the Conversation: Are you embracing or avoiding social media in these post-election days?
2. With the annual enrollment period in full swing, a strong majority of Americans 65 and older are likely to keep their Medicare plan as is.
The 2024 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) spans from October 15 to December 7, giving Medicare-eligible individuals the opportunity to review and adjust their healthcare coverage. New CivicScience data show only a small percentage of respondents aged 65 and older plan to change insurance carriers, or aim to keep their current carrier but enroll in a different plan. Slightly more than 1-in-5 still aren’t quite sure of their plans yet. Retirees are more likely to stick with their current coverage, while those still employed show a higher likelihood of switching plans or staying uncertain.
3. Roughly a third of Americans report they’ve bought something on auction sites over the last year, led by clothing purchases.
New CivicScience polling data show that about 1-in-3 U.S. adults report buying something on an online auction site at least once in the past 12 months. The clear leading platform among respondents in all age groups is eBay, although younger consumers are more likely to report using other sites, such as Auction.com or GovDeals.
More than a quarter of consumers say they have bought clothing or accessories on an online auction site at least once in the past year, making it the most popular product category studied. Other common auction site categories include household items and electronics.
Let Us Know: Would you ever go to eBay for holiday gift shopping?