64% of Americans say the internet, phones will help but won't replace in-person contact during COVID-19 outbreak % of USS adults who say that, ifmany of the everyday interactions they have in person have be do be done online or by telephone because of recommended limits on social contact during by the coronavirus outbreak, it...
Asked what will happen if many of the everyday interactions they have in person have to be done online or by phone because of the coronavirus outbreak, 27% say these technologies will be just as good as in-person contact. By comparison, the largest share (64%) says these tools will be useful, but will not be a replacement for face-to-face communications, and just 8% say the internet or phones won’t help much at all during this time. This pattern holds true across each major demographic group.
Still, there are some notable differences by educational attainment. Roughly three-quarters of college graduates (73%) say that if their everyday in-person interactions have to be done online or by phone, it will help but not be a replacement for in-person contact. That share falls to 63% among those who have some college experience and 56% among Americans with a high school education or less.
64% of Americans say the internet, phones will help  | but won't replace in-person contact during COVID-19  | outbreak  | % of USS adults who say that, ifmany of the everyday interactions they  | have in person have be do be done online or by telephone because of  | recommended limits on social contact during by the coronavirus outbreak, it...  | Will be just  | Will be useful but will not  | as good as in-  | Won't be  | be a replacement for  | person contact  | in-person contact  | much help  | U.S. ad ults  | 27  | 64  | Men  | 26  | 63  | Women  | 28  | 64  | Ages 18-29  | 21  | 30-49  | 28  | 63  | 8  | 50- -64  | 8  | 29  | 62  | 65+  | 29  | 62  | White  | 26  | 8  | 65  | Black  | 33  | 56  | 9  | Hispanic  | 28  | 6  | 65  | HS or less  | 30  | 56  | 12  | 4  | Some college  | 29  | 63  | College+  | 22  | 73  | Rural  | 29  | 59  | 11  | 6  | Suburban  | 26  | 66  | Urban  | 27  | 64  | Rep/Lean Rep  | 29  | Dem/Lean Dem  | 26  | Note: Whites and blacks include only non-Hispanics. Hispanics are of any race. Those who  | did not give an answer jare not shown.  | Source: Survey of U.S adults conducted shown. March 19-24, 2020.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 