Best examples of questions about personal preferences for social media

Scroll-stopping examples of questions about personal preferences

Let’s start with what you actually came for: concrete, copy‑and‑paste ideas. These examples of questions about personal preferences are built for engagement right now, not for the internet of 2016.

Try prompts like these in Stories, polls, or captions:

• “When you’re exhausted, what’s your go-to comfort show: rewatching an old favorite or trying something new?”
• “Are you a ‘camera on’ or ‘camera off’ person in video meetings—and why?”
• “If you had to delete one forever: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or email?”
• “Do you prefer clear, step‑by‑step tutorials or quick ‘watch me do it’ videos?”
• “Morning person, night owl, or permanently tired raccoon?”
• “Would you rather get news from podcasts, newsletters, or social media?”
• “When you treat yourself, are you more ‘fancy coffee’ or ‘fancy skincare’?”
• “Do you save posts to revisit later, or is it ‘like it and forget it’?”

Each example of a preference question does two things at once: it’s fun to answer, and it quietly reveals how your audience lives, shops, and thinks.

Everyday life: examples of personal preference questions that feel natural

The best examples of questions about personal preferences usually sound like something you’d ask a friend while waiting in line for coffee. No overthinking, no corporate vibe.

Here are ways to frame everyday-life questions that invite quick, honest answers:

Food & drink preferences
Instead of the tired “What’s your favorite food?”, make it specific and situational:

• “You’re starving and only have 10 minutes. Are you ordering a sandwich, salad, or something sweet?”
• “Iced coffee in winter: absolutely yes or absolutely not?”
• “Spicy food fans: mild, medium, or set‑my-soul-on-fire levels?”
• “If you could only keep one: brunch or dessert?”

Questions like these can spin into content ideas, product flavors, or even event menus. If you’re in food, nutrition, or wellness, pairing preference questions with evidence-based tips from sources like Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health or NIH Nutrition can both engage and educate without lecturing.

Home & lifestyle preferences
People love talking about how they organize (or fail to organize) their space:

• “When you get home, do you clean the kitchen right away or sit down ‘for a minute’ that lasts three hours?”
• “Do you prefer a minimalist home or cozy chaos with lots of stuff and color?”
• “Are you a ‘make the bed every day’ person or ‘why bother’ person?”
• “If you could upgrade one room in your home right now, which would it be?”

These examples of questions about personal preferences work especially well for creators in home decor, cleaning, productivity, or real estate. The answers can guide your next how‑to, product recommendation, or before‑and‑after post.

Digital habits: examples of questions about personal preferences in a 2024–2025 world

Our habits online are shifting fast—short‑form video, AI tools, and notification fatigue are everywhere. Tapping into that with smart questions gives you both engagement and real‑time insight.

Screen time & content style
Try questions that mirror how people actually use their phones:

• “Be honest: do you watch Reels/TikToks with sound on or off most of the time?”
• “Do you prefer long, deep‑dive videos or quick 30–60 second hits of info?”
• “Are you more likely to save a post, share it, or screenshot it?”
• “When you follow someone new, what hooks you first: their vibe, their expertise, or their aesthetics?”

You can even connect this with evidence on attention and digital health from places like the American Psychological Association or NIH if your brand leans into mental health or productivity.

Notifications & boundaries
Digital boundaries are a very 2024–2025 topic, and people have opinions:

• “Do you keep notifications on for social media, or is everything on Do Not Disturb?”
• “Are you a ‘reply instantly’ person or a ‘reply when I have the energy’ person?”
• “Would you rather get updates by email, text, or app notifications?”

These examples of questions about personal preferences can help you decide how to deliver content—newsletters, SMS, push notifications, or social posts.

Work, study, and productivity: examples include surprisingly spicy opinions

Ask people how they like to work or study, and you’ll get strong, detailed answers. That’s gold for engagement and for tailoring your offers.

Workstyle questions
Great examples of questions about personal preferences at work:

• “Are you more productive at home, in an office, or in a café?”
• “Do you prefer scheduled meetings or quick async updates (Slack, email, Loom)?”
• “When you’re stuck on a task, do you power through or step away for a break?”
• “Do you like strict routines or flexible, ‘as long as it gets done’ days?”

If you’re in career coaching, HR, or leadership, these answers can shape future content—like whether to focus on remote work tips or office culture. You can also layer in research-backed advice from sources like Harvard Business Review or workplace health guidelines from CDC Workplace Health Promotion.

Study and learning preferences
For educators, course creators, and ed‑tech brands, questions about learning style are pure insight:

• “Do you learn better from reading, watching videos, or hands‑on practice?”
• “Would you rather have one long workshop or a series of short lessons?”
• “Do you prefer live classes where you can ask questions, or self‑paced courses?”
• “When you take notes, are you typing, handwriting, or not taking notes at all?”

These examples of questions about personal preferences help you design formats that match how your audience actually learns, not how you wish they learned.

Lifestyle, wellness, and self-care: gentle questions, high engagement

Wellness content is everywhere, but the posts that land best are the ones that feel personal, not preachy. Personal preference questions let you talk about health and self‑care without telling anyone what to do.

Movement and exercise
Instead of “Do you work out?”, try:

• “If movement didn’t ‘count’ as exercise, what would you actually enjoy doing?”
• “Do you prefer working out alone, with a friend, or in a group class?”
• “Morning workouts, lunchtime, or late‑night sessions—what fits your energy best?”
• “Would you rather walk outside or use a treadmill with a show?”

Pairing these questions with trusted information from places like Mayo Clinic or CDC Physical Activity Guidelines can add value without turning your feed into a textbook.

Mental rest and self‑care
Self‑care is personal, and people love sharing their rituals:

• “When you need to reset, are you more ‘long walk’, ‘long bath’, or ‘long scroll’?”
• “Do you recharge by being alone or being around your favorite people?”
• “Perfect low‑energy evening: reading, watching something, gaming, or just going to bed early?”
• “Do you prefer structured routines for self‑care or just doing what you feel like in the moment?”

These examples of questions about personal preferences can open up meaningful comment threads while giving you a sense of your audience’s stress levels, energy, and capacity.

Taste, identity, and culture: deeper examples of questions about personal preferences

If your brand touches creativity, culture, or identity—books, music, fashion, fandoms—preference questions can go from light and fun to surprisingly deep.

Style and aesthetics
Great for fashion, beauty, design, or lifestyle creators:

• “Do you prefer a ‘signature look’ or constantly changing your style?”
• “If you had to pick one forever: bold colors or neutrals?”
• “Are you more drawn to trends or timeless basics?”
• “Would you rather invest in one high‑quality piece or several budget‑friendly options?”

Books, music, and media
Instead of “What’s your favorite song?”, try questions that reveal patterns:

• “Do you usually pick books based on recommendations, algorithms, or browsing in person?”
• “Are you more likely to rewatch a favorite movie or search for something new?”
• “Do you listen to music while you work, or do you need silence?”
• “Podcasts: long, deep conversations or short, punchy episodes?”

These examples of questions about personal preferences don’t just create comments—they tell you how your audience discovers new things, which is priceless if you’re promoting media, products, or events.

How to write your own best examples of questions about personal preferences

You don’t have to copy anyone else’s voice. Use these patterns to create your own best examples of questions about personal preferences that feel like you.

1. Make it specific and situational
“Favorite snack?” is vague. Instead:

• “It’s 11 p.m. and you’re still awake. What are you most likely to snack on?”
• “You’re at the airport with an hour to kill—what are you buying: coffee, candy, or a full meal?”

Specific scenes make it easier for people to picture themselves and answer quickly.

2. Offer 2–4 clear options
Open‑ended questions are great sometimes, but polls and multiple‑choice questions lower the effort. For example:

• “For learning new skills, what do you prefer: A) live classes, B) pre‑recorded courses, C) short tips on social, D) reading articles?”

People can still comment with nuance, but they don’t have to in order to participate.

3. Tap into tiny frictions and everyday decisions
The best examples of questions about personal preferences usually touch on small but relatable tensions:

• “Do you answer messages as soon as you see them, or do you mentally reply and forget to actually respond?”
• “When you’re running late, do you text an honest ETA or ‘on my way’ even if you’re not?”

Everyone has a tiny opinion on these, which is why they work.

4. Keep it low‑stakes and nonjudgmental
Avoid questions that make people feel like there’s a right or wrong answer. Instead of:

• “Do you waste time on social media?”
  Try:

• “When you’re avoiding a boring task, where do you usually escape to: social media, snacks, or random cleaning?”

Same topic, less shame, more honest answers.

5. Mix light questions with slightly deeper ones
You can earn the right to ask deeper questions by starting with playful ones. For example:

• Start with: “Morning beverage of choice: coffee, tea, energy drink, or water?”
• Then later: “What’s one small morning habit that genuinely improves your day?”

Both are examples of questions about personal preferences, but the second invites reflection once people already feel comfortable engaging with you.

FAQ: examples of personal preference questions for social media

Q: What are some easy examples of questions about personal preferences I can use today?
Try prompts like: “Do you prefer learning from videos or written guides?”, “Would you rather work from home or in an office?”, “Are you team early bird or night owl?”, or “When you follow someone new, do you care more about personality or expertise?” Each example of a preference question is simple, fast to answer, and relevant to most audiences.

Q: How often should I post questions about personal preferences?
Aim for at least one or two preference‑style questions per week across your platforms. Rotate themes—work, lifestyle, content formats, self‑care—so it doesn’t feel repetitive. Watch which examples of questions about personal preferences get the most replies, and build more content around those topics.

Q: Are there any topics I should avoid with personal preference questions?
Skip anything that could feel invasive, shaming, or polarizing unless your brand is explicitly built around those conversations and you know how to moderate them. Focus on everyday choices, routines, and tastes. When in doubt, check whether your question respects privacy and aligns with guidelines on respectful communication from organizations like the American Psychological Association or health‑focused sites like Mayo Clinic.

Q: What is one example of turning answers into content ideas?
If you ask, “Do you prefer quick tips or deep‑dive tutorials?” and most people pick quick tips, you can plan a series of short posts or Reels answering one tiny question at a time. You can also screenshot poll results (with context) and say, “You voted for quick tips, so here are three for this week,” directly showing that you act on their preferences.

Q: Do personal preference questions actually help with strategy, or are they just for fun?
They’re fun and strategic. Every answer is soft data on your audience’s habits, learning styles, buying preferences, and boundaries. Used well, the best examples of questions about personal preferences double as market research—informing your offers, posting schedule, and content formats without sending anyone a formal survey.