Most people have at one time or another wrestled with a question that starts, “Should I tell my friend about …?” It might be that a friend has bad breath, is in a toxic relationship, is bad at cooking, or commits social faux pas such as interrupting others or telling offensive jokes. A new YouGov survey asked Americans if they would tell a close friend about a variety of potentially awkward situations or traits.
Three-quarters (74%) would definitely (37%) or probably (37%) tell a close friend if they thought that friend was in a toxic relationship. Social missteps that at least two-thirds of Americans would call out in a close friend: being mean (72%), drinking too much (69%), having bad body odor (67%), and telling offensive jokes (67%). Wait, I need to cut you off to say that 65% would definitely (27%) or probably (38%) tell a close friend if they frequently interrupted other people.
Most (62%) would definitely not (30%) or probably not (31%) tell a close friend if they thought the friend was overweight. 52% definitely or probably wouldn’t tell a friend their clothing choices are unflattering; 37% say they definitely or probably would.
Americans are equally likely to say they would (46%) tell a close friend that the friend is too self-centered in conversations as to say they would not (46%). Similarly close shares say they would (43%) and would not (44%) tell a close friend that they think the friend is a bad parent.
Americans have gotten more forthright with their friends on some sensitive topics. A version of this question was asked in October 2016, and at the time fewer Americans said they would tell their friend if they had bad body odor (54% vs. 67% now). Fewer in 2016 said they would tell a close friend if they had a bad haircut (42% vs. 49% now) or if their cooking tasted bad (32% vs. 44% now).
Men are more likely than women to say they definitely or probably would tell a friend about many traits or situations. Among the biggest gaps: 55% of men and 33% of women would tell a friend they’re a bad dancer. 57% of men and 36% of women would tell a friend they’re flaky. 54% of men and 35% of women would tell a friend their cooking tastes bad. 38% of men and 20% of women would tell a friend that they’re overweight.
Women are slightly more likely than men to say they would definitely or probably tell a close friend if their friend's partner was cheating on them (62% vs. 55%) or if they tell offensive jokes (71% vs. 62%).
There are some topics that younger adults are more likely to bring up with a close friend than older ones are. Among the biggest gaps between adults under 45 and older Americans: 62% of adults under 45 would tell a close friend if they had a bad haircut and 40% of older Americans would. 55% of adults under 45 would tell a close friend they’re a bad parent and 34% of older Americans would. Most (57%) 18-to 44-year-olds would tell someone they’re too self centered in conversations; 36% of older Americans would.
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See the results for this YouGov survey
— Carl Bialik and Taylor Orth contributed to this article
Methodology: This article includes results from an online survey conducted December 12 - 15, 2024 among 1,130 U.S. adult citizens. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of adult U.S. citizens. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 presidential vote, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification, and current voter registration status. 2024 presidential vote, at time of weighting, was estimated to be 48% Harris and 50% Trump. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Baseline party identification is the respondent’s most recent answer given around November 8, 2024, and is weighted to the estimated distribution at that time (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 4%.
Image: Getty (MoMo Productions)
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