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1. Most social media users are uncomfortable with location sharing functions on social media amid the new Instagram Map feature, though comfort varies greatly by platform.
Instagram recently launched its Map feature, similar to Snapchat’s Snap Map, allowing users to opt in to sharing their last active location with selected friends or followers. While Gen Z has grown accustomed to location sharing with family and friends on apps like Life360 and Find My, new CivicScience data show that 61% of social media users overall are ‘not at all’ comfortable with real-time location sharing on social media platforms. On the other hand, just 13% are ‘very’ comfortable with social media location sharing.
Among specific platform users, weekly Snapchat and TikTok users are most likely to be comfortable, while weekly Facebook and Instagram users are far more hesitant. The difference by platform is likely a proxy for age, with discomfort increasing among older generations who tend to use Facebook compared to the younger generations on Snapchat and TikTok. That said, as much as 40% of Gen Z social media users aged 18-29 are ‘not at all’ comfortable with social media-based location sharing.
Take Our Poll: How comfortable are you with smartphone apps accessing your location?
2. More than two in five U.S. adults now say they’ve purchased a refurbished tech product, led by Millennials.
Interest in refurbished technology continues to grow. Compared to August of 2024, the percentage who say they have purchased refurbished tech has increased by four points, alongside a two-point increase in those who have at least considered the option (excluding those unsure). Millennials are the clear leaders in purchasing refurbished tech, followed by Gen X and Gen Z adults.
CivicScience data also offers a glimpse into other noteworthy characteristics of those who have purchased refurbished tech, compared to those who haven’t:
- Those who have purchased refurbished tech products are 12 points more likely to say they’re at least ‘somewhat’ addicted to their digital devices compared to non-purchasers.
- They’re also most likely to turn to YouTube when seeking information on brands, products, or techniques for electronics.
- When it comes to shopping for the upcoming winter holidays amid tariffs, refurbished tech buyers are notably more likely to say they’re buying earlier to beat rising prices (20% to 12%, respectively) or are spending less on gifts due to higher prices.
3. Rising costs are not only changing how Americans consume fuel, but they’re also reshaping travel and daily commutes.
With rising costs and broader economic uncertainty weighing heavily on budgets, many U.S. adults are rethinking how they get around. CivicScience data show 38% of U.S. adults report they’ve actively been limiting their fuel consumption in some way over the past month. The most common methods include combining trips or staying home more and traveling less by car. Nearly one-quarter are also biking or walking to reduce fuel use, while roughly one in five are opting for public transportation or carpooling.
Although driving a car or motorcycle remains the dominant method of commuting to work, these transportation shifts are also evident in the daily commute of in-person workers. The share of in-person workers who drive a car or motorcycle has fallen from 82% to 79% since 2023, while public transit use has climbed by the same margin.
Weigh in: Would you describe the public transportation in your area of residence as reliable or unreliable?
