- New survey shows half of Americans are ‘secret socializers,’ and don’t tell people about their hijinx in order to avoid derision.
- Despite most feeling uncomfortable at in-person parties, the average adult still has plans to attend at least nine gatherings!
NEW YORK — Americans are fighting for their right to party, but 60% would prefer to party remotely for the time being. A new survey of 2,000 U.S. adults shows six in 10 only feel comfortable attending a virtual get-together for the remainder of the year.
However, just because many Americans aren’t wild about physical parties right now, that doesn’t mean everyone is avoiding them. Just under a third of respondents admit they’ve already attended at least one in-person party since the pandemic started. Furthermore, regardless of how anxious it makes them, the average American is still planning on attending at least nine physical parties in 2020!
The survey, commissioned by Evite, asked respondents which events or occasions would be enough to leave home and socialize in person. Close to half (41%) say they would attend a family member’s birthday party, even if COVID-19 cases are increasing locally. Another 36% would go to a friend’s birthday party and 26% would attend a wedding.
So, the survey paints a nuanced picture of Americans’ social lives in 2020. While many don’t necessarily feel great about attending parties right now, a decent portion of that group is still willing to risk it if push comes to shove.
Party protection
But, what precautions would help put Americans at ease when attending parties? Most respondents (78%) now expect strict hygiene and safety rules at in-person get-togethers. Ideally, they would only like to attend parties with an average of six guests in attendance. Also, 49% want to see socially distanced chairs and tables. The same percentage (49%) would feel much better attending a party if everyone wears a mask and consumes individual food servings.
Meanwhile, 67% would like temperature checks at parties, and 43% even expect party hosts to provide COVID-19 tests for all guests prior to entry.
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“It’s no surprise that people still want to celebrate big moments with their friends and families, like birthdays or weddings. However, it’s clear from the survey results that the old way of getting together won’t cut it. Simple gestures like keeping your guest list small, ensuring everyone wears a mask, and practicing physical distancing go a long way in making your guests feel comfortable at an in-person party. For larger parties, hosts may want to take their safety measures up another notch so that everyone can fully enjoy themselves,” says Zaria Zinn, celebration expert at Evite, in a statement.
More than a quarter (27%) of respondents are planning on hosting a party of their own sometime soon. However, 45% of that group say they’ll only do so if all guests agree to follow social distancing recommendations. Another 42% would only host a gathering if all of their guests had recently tested negative for COVID-19, and 38% would have to stock up on hand sanitizer.
Interestingly, the survey also finds that half of Americans have become “secret socializers,” who hide their social activities. Why? Probably to avoid facing criticism for seeing people in person during a pandemic. In total, 54% are planning on keeping all of their social events and plans secret for the time being.
The survey was conducted by OnePoll.
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