More than eight in ten feel they can choose who they interact with

May 11, 2026 · n = 1,000 · MoE ±3.3%Source report ↗

Core finding

A sense of control over one's social circle is widely shared. More than eight-in-ten Americans (86%) agree they can choose the people they interact with in their lives, including 29% who strongly agree.

Just 5% disagree and 9% land in between, according to a May 2026 Verasight survey.

Topline scale

More than eight in ten feel they can choose who they interact with.

Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: I can choose the people I interact with in my life.

Agree
36.8%
Strongly agree
29.3%
Slightly agree
19.8%
Neither agree nor disagree
9.1%
Slightly disagree
3.5%
Disagree
1.3%
Strongly disagree
0.2%

n = 1,000 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%

Net findings combine adjacent response options from the same scale.
ModeVerasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
PopulationUS adults age 18+
Field datesMay 11, 2026
Base (unweighted)1,000
Margin of error±3.3%
Modulesociety
SponsorVerasight
Weight variableweight
Weighting targetsage, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

  1. 01

    Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: I can choose the people I interact with in my life.

    reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26

Cite this question

Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.