2020: The Year it All Changed, Or Just a Blip?

Is the pandemic a blip on the radar? Or will it have long-term lasting effects on the way we live? At a time when we can’t seem to agree on anything, it’s no surprise that we’re divided on predictions of how it will all pan out.

Half of Americans think our lives will change in major ways and half think things will return to normal, according to Pew Research Center. Race, age, political affiliation, income, gender, and where we live changes our belief in whether or not life will be different for us after the pandemic:

• 57% of younger adults, age 18 to 29 say it will, compared to 51% of those ages 30 to 49, half of those ages 50 to 64 and 47% of those 65 and older.
• 64% of Black Americans say it will, compared to 56% of Asian adults, 53% of Hispanic adults and 48% of White adults.
• 54% of women versus 47% of men think it will be different
• 60% of Democrats compared with 40% of Republicans think it will be different
• 53% of lower-income, compared to 51% of middle-income, and 46% of higher-income adults think it will be different
• 56% of people who live in urban areas, compared with 51% of people who live in the suburbs and 46% of people living in rural areas