In today's fast-paced world, we're constantly flooded with news and information. Some of it is of great importance, while other bits are more trivial. Navigating through this sea of information can be overwhelming, and deciding what to care about can be even more challenging.
That’s why the Ipsos iSay team is sharing the Care-o-Meter – an interactive look at what people know and care about in the headlines, powered by data from the Ipsos Consumer Tracker. This innovative feature is sure to become your go-to resource for understanding the collective pulse of American society!
What is the Care-o-Meter?
The interactive Care-o-Meter measures public awareness and interest in a variety of topics ranging from politics and culture to technology, the economy, our planet, sports, and society. Given a series of in-the-news events, Americans are asked two simple questions:
- How much do you know about these events?
- How much do you care about them?
Using the results from this survey, the Care-o-Meter provides a visual representation of what people are talking about and prioritizing.
How to Use the Care-o-Meter
Using the Care-o-Meter is easy and fun! In this interactive graph, each datapoint represents a specific event. The events are plotted by how much Americans know about them (left to right) and how much they care about them (bottom to top). Click or tap the datapoints to see the full details or use the legend to filter by topic.
The Care-o-Meter contains every question Ipsos has asked since April 2023, so go ahead and start exploring this fascinating view of public opinion!
Find the latest Care-o-Meter updates here.
Get to Know the Care-o-Meter
Any event plotted on the Care-o-Meter will fall into one of four sections: Know/Care, Know/Don’t Care, Don’t Know/Care, or Don’t Know/Don’t Care. Each area offers unique insights into public perception and interest. Let’s take a look at some examples.
Know / Care: The Total Solar Eclipse of April 2024
In this section, we find events that people are both aware of and care about. A great example is the total solar eclipse that was visible across parts of the United States in April 2024. This celestial event captivated the nation, with millions of people making special plans to witness it. The high level of knowledge and care indicates its broad appeal and significance.
Other events in the Know/Care sector include the incident when a hole blew open in a Boeing 737 Max-9 during an Alaska Airlines flight, and President Joe Biden's announcement that he would not run for reelection.
Go ahead and explore the Care-o-Meter to discover more events that Americans know and care about.
Know / Don’t Care: Taylor Swift at Arrowhead Stadium
Here in the Know/Don’t’ Care area, we see events that people are aware of but don't particularly care about. For instance, we have Taylor Swift's first appearance at Arrowhead Stadium as a guest of Travis Kelce in September 2023. While many knew about the event thanks to media coverage, it didn't spark significant emotional investment or concern among the public.
This reflects a broader trend of certain events receiving extensive media attention despite not holding great importance in the hearts and minds of everyday Americans. Do any of the Care-o-Meter’s Know/Don’t Care events capture your attention?
Don’t Know / Care: The Release of Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich
This next quadrant of the graph covers events that people may not know much about but care once they find out. A notable example is the release of Marine veteran Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in a prisoner exchange with Russia in August 2024. Despite limited awareness, the event garnered strong reactions and interest.
A couple other examples of lesser known but strongly cared about events include the FDA approving the first drug to treat postpartum depression and Tennessee passing a bill allowing teachers to carry guns in their classrooms.
The Don’t Know/Care section is a valuable reminder of the kinds of news stories that spark genuine interest but often go underreported. Can you find any points in the Care-o-Meter that you saw little or no coverage, yet you wished you had heard more about it?
Don’t Know/Don’t Care: Open AI's CEO Controversy
Finally, we have events that people neither know about nor care much about. Perhaps these events have niche audiences, or maybe they simply lack the impact needed to draw broader public interest. An example from the Don’t Know/Don’t Care section is the removal and subsequent reinstatement of Sam Altman as CEO of Open AI in December 2023. This event, while significant within the tech community, did not capture widespread public attention or concern.
The Importance of Knowing What We Care About
The Care-o-Meter is a valuable tool for anyone looking to understand what captures public attention and why. By breaking down events into categories of awareness and concern, it offers a nuanced view of societal priorities. Whether you're a news enthusiast, a casual observer, or a data enthusiast, the Care-o-Meter provides an engaging and informative way to navigate the endless stream of information we encounter every day.
Explore the Care-o-Meter and see where your interests align with the rest of America!
You have the opportunity to contribute your voice to the Care-o-Meter and other interesting Ipsos research when you take surveys with Ipsos iSay. Visit your dashboard to check for new surveys daily!
