More than half of shoppers prefer companies remain neutral on social and political issues: survey

We’ve covered it before: Consumers want the brands they shop to align with their values. But what should brands do when those values clash with those who disagree?

The answer is complicated: Almost three in five shoppers (58%) believe corporations should be neutral on political issues, while 52% say the same of social issues, according to the latest Ipsos Consumer Tracker.

• And if you weren’t aware there’s a major divide on these issues, 48% say they are less likely to buy from a company that has opposing political views, and 52% say the same on social issues.

This year’s Pride month has been a bit of a debacle for corporations. While they’ve faced major pushack through protests targeting Bud Light and Target, some in the LGBTQ+ community have expressed that the month has become too corporate.

• Just over 2 in 5 Americans said too many businesses claim to celebrate Pride, and 44% said the same for Juneteenth “without committing to real change,” per Ipsos.
• But 53% believe corporations need to stand by their stances even in the face of backlash, as opposed to 15% who disagree.