A new survey from Preply examines the nuances behind Americans’ opinions and habits regarding small talk. The team found that 71% of Americans would rather sit in silence than engage in small talk. 2 in 3 of these Americans find small talk awkward, which is why they’d rather avoid it. Cell phones are the most common way to avoid small talk, especially among younger adults.
When Americans were asked which topics they found the safest, most uncontroversial, and universally relatable, they chose:
• Weather
• Plans
• Work
The most dreaded and awkward topics include:
• Sports
• Current events
• Work questions (like “what do you do?”)
• Personal questions (specifically “are you married?”)
The survey indicated that younger adults may be less comfortable with unstructured conversation. 89% of Gen Z admitted they check their phones to get out of small talk. This is a much higher number than the 30% of Baby Boomers who say they do the same thing. 23% of Baby Boomers say they use small talk to get to know someone new, whereas only 7% of Gen Z say they do the same.
Many people are more comfortable with casual conversation with familiar faces. This is who the respondents would prefer to make small talk with:
• 69% with friends
• 62% with family
• 51% with coworkers
Interestingly, mothers were the most often cited as the family member who likes to talk the most.
The survey suggests small talk is more than trivial chatter. Many people find social skills challenging when speaking with strangers. There are major generational differences in comfort levels, suggesting that screen habits could influence social skills. If you’d rather sit quietly than make small talk with strangers, the Preply team makes it clear that you aren’t alone, and many Americans feel the same.
