Once largely confined to science fiction and philosophy debates, the idea that we may be living in a simulation occasionally resurfaces in tech and online conversations. But how many Americans actually think it’s plausible?

According to a recent CivicScience poll, 7% of U.S. adults say it’s ‘very likely’ we’re living in a simulation, and another 15% say it’s ‘somewhat likely.’ Meanwhile, a majority (55%) say it’s not at all likely, and 23% say they don’t know what the concept means.

Belief skews younger. Gen Z adults aged 18–29 are the most likely to say it’s at least somewhat likely we’re living in a simulation. Men are more inclined than women to see it as plausible, as are residents of the Western U.S. and those living in urban and suburban (non-rural) areas.

But demographics aren’t the only thing separating simulation believers from skeptics. Excluding those who say they’re unsure what the concept means, CivicScience data reveal distinct lifestyle and attitudinal differences:

• Adventurous Eaters: They’re nine points more likely to describe themselves as more adventurous than others when trying new foods (44% vs. 35%).

• Climate Change Concerns: A majority (58%) of simulation believers say they’re concerned about climate change, outpacing the 44% of skeptics who say the same.

• Movies as a Passion: One in five (20%) of those who think we may be living in a simulation say movies are important to them or a true passion, compared to 15% of those who don’t believe it’s possible.

• Consumer Privacy: Concern extends beyond philosophy, 69% say they’re very concerned about consumer privacy, compared to 49% of those who don’t believe we live in a simulation.

• Value Menus: They’re also five points more likely to say they’re at least somewhat interested in value menu items from fast food restaurants (42% vs. 37%).

While the belief that we’re living in a simulation remains a minority view, those open to the idea stand out in measurable ways. They report stronger interest in movies, higher concern about climate change and consumer privacy, and a greater likelihood of describing themselves as adventurous when trying new foods. The differences suggest that attitudes toward simulation theory connect to broader lifestyle and worldview patterns.

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This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.