Source: The Ipsos Consumer Tracker, fielded March 12 – March 13, 2025 among 313 U.S. adults who said they’d reduced or stopped purchasing from a company due to politics or current events
Total 18-34 35-54 55+
When thinking about boycotting companies, to what extent, if any, do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
- Agree Summary
I was successful in reducing or stopping my purchases and have stuck to it
I tried to reduce or stop, but it’s challenging to change my shopping patterns
I would like to boycott based on my beliefs, but I can’t find an alternative that supports or aligns with my beliefs
I would like to boycott but it’s too expensive to change my shopping my patterns
I was able to reduce but stopping would be impossible
I was able to reduce and tried to offset that with more spending at other companies
75%
61%
74%
86%
51%
60%
62%
33%
30%
40%
35%
15%
27%
39%
30%
13%
61%
71%
61%
52%
68%
62%
68%
75%
IPSOS DATA DROPS:
Boycotts in America
March 2025
Key Takeaways:
One in four Americans says that in the past month, they’ve reduced or stopped purchasing from a company due to politics or current events. Democrats were twice as likely as Republicans to say they’d participated in a boycott.
Most Americans said participating in a boycott was challenging — but younger Americans were most likely to say stopping their spending altogether would be impossible.
Younger Americans were nonetheless more likely than older Americans to have abstained from various activities over the past year.
18- to 34-year-olds were most likely to say boycotts are challenging (or impossible)
The youngest Americans were about as likely as older ones to have participated in a boycott over the last year. But the older Americans who boycotted said they had a much easier time sticking with it. Gen Z was also much more likely to say it’d be more expensive to change their shopping patterns.
18- to 34-year-olds were more likely to say that there isn’t an alternative that “supports or aligns with [their] beliefs,” suggesting an underserved market for products that meet these standards.
2
More Americans say they participated in “No Buy” day than Dry January, Meatless Mondays, or giving things up for religious reasons.
Younger Americans were most likely to have given up things for religious reasons, Dry January has grown in popularity with all ages. 21% of 18- to 34-year-olds said they participated in Dry January this year, vs. 14% last year. There was a 6% increase among 35- to 54-year-olds and those 55 and older.
Total 18-34 35-54 55+
Dry January
Giving up things or activities for religious reasons
Giving up things or activities for a non-religious reason or "just because"
Movember (growing of mustaches)
Meatless Mondays
“No Buy” day
Source: The Ipsos Consumer Tracker, fielded March 12 – March 13, 2025 among 1,077 U.S. adults.
In the past year, did you participate in any of the following, or not? - Yes Summary
16%
21%
16%
12%
21%
30%
20%
15%
31%
42%
33%
19%
17%
21%
24%
5%
10%
14%
11%
7%
27%
32%
24%
25%
Across categories, the youngest Americans were most likely to opt out of things
3
popularity with all ages. 21% of 18- to 34-year-olds said they participated in Dry January this year, vs. 14% last year. There was a 6% increase among 35- to 54-year-olds and those 55 and older.
The latest Ipsos Consumer Tracker offers further confirmation for a trend we’ve been monitoring: Recently, Democrats have been more likely to say they’re spending in line with their values.
But those who took the plunge report similar levels of follow-through: 77% of Republicans who boycotted and 83% of Democrats who boycotted agreed that they “were successful in reducing or my purchases and have stuck to it.”
Dry January
Giving up things or activities for religious reasons
Giving up things or activities for a non-religious reason or "just because"
Movember (growing of mustaches)
Source: The Ipsos Consumer Tracker, fielded March 12 – March 13, 2025 among 1,077 U.S. adults.
In the past month, have you reduced or stopped purchasing from a company due to politics or current events?
26%
15%
42%
16%
Democrats are still more likely to stop purchasing products because of politics
1
But those who took the plunge report similar levels of follow-through: 77% of Republicans who boycotted and 83% of Democrats who boycotted agreed that they “were successful in reducing or my purchases and have stuck to it.”
What's Next
In the past month alone, one in four Americans has attempted to boycott a company due to politics or current events. Not all of them succeeded — but if competitors make it easier for them to follow through, targeted brands could be in trouble.
Generational gaps don’t just structure how Americans spend — they structure how they don’t. While Gen X and Baby Boomers say they can stick to a boycott, younger Americans say they struggle to shift their spending patterns. This should also factor into your brand loyalty calculus.
When it comes to boycotts, Democrats continue to put their money where their mouth is. As politics and polarization intrudes further on the commercial sphere, brands should tread carefully.
TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT: Wendy Wallner EVP, Senior Client Officer, Retail & Restaurant Sectors wendy.wallner@ipsos.com Or visit the Ipsos Consumer Tracker archive and the Ipsos Top Topics page.
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IPSOS DATA DROPS:
Boycotts in America
March 2025
IPSOS DATA DROPs
Boycotts in America
April 2025
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