150 debate topics: fun, interesting, easy and controversial

A good debate topic has two sides that a reasonable person could take. That is what makes it fun: you can argue for the side you do not even believe and learn something. Whether you need debate topics for a class, a group of friends, or a random chat that has stalled, here are 150, sorted from light to serious.

A note on the controversial section: those topics are for people who want a real argument and can stay civil. With a stranger, start with fun or easy topics and only go further if you are both enjoying it.

How to debate well (and stay friends)

• Steelman, do not strawman. Argue against the strongest version of the other view, not the silliest.
• One point at a time. Three arguments at once means none of them gets answered.
• Ask for the reason, not the conclusion. “Why do you think that?” moves things forward; “That is wrong” does not.
• Swap sides for five minutes. The fastest way to understand a position is to defend it.
• Agree on what would change your mind. If nothing would, it is not a debate, it is a speech.
• Stop while it is still fun. A debate that becomes personal is over.

Fun debate topics

1. Is a hot dog a sandwich?
2. Is cereal a soup?
3. Pineapple on pizza: crime or genius?
4. Cats or dogs: which is the better pet, objectively?
5. Is it acceptable to put ketchup on a steak?
6. Should toilet paper hang over or under?
7. Are movies better than books, or the other way round?
8. Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses?
9. Is water wet?
10. Should you shower in the morning or at night?
11. Is a wrap a sandwich?
12. Is it ever okay to recline your seat on a plane?
13. Which is the best season, and why is it autumn?
14. Are hot drinks better than cold drinks?
15. Is it wrong to eat pizza with a knife and fork?
16. Should there be a speed limit for walking in busy streets?
17. Is chocolate better than crisps as a snack?
18. Is it better to be too early or slightly late?
19. Should pyjamas be allowed in public?
20. Is the dishwasher or hand-washing the superior method?
21. Is a text message reply within a day polite enough?
22. Do socks with sandals deserve the hate?
23. Should the last slice belong to whoever paid or whoever is hungriest?
24. Is breakfast the most important meal, or just the most marketed one?
25. Which is better: sunrise or sunset?

Easy debate topics

Clear sides, no research needed. Good for beginners, classrooms and a first chat.

1. Should homework be banned?
2. Are school uniforms a good idea?
3. Is it better to live in a city or in the countryside?
4. Should mobile phones be allowed in classrooms?
5. Is summer better than winter?
6. Should everyone learn to cook?
7. Are video games a waste of time?
8. Is it better to work from home or in an office?
9. Should pets be allowed in the workplace?
10. Is reading better than watching television?
11. Should the school day start later?
12. Is it better to travel alone or with friends?
13. Should people have to pass a test before owning a pet?
14. Is money the most important factor in choosing a job?
15. Should everyone learn a second language?
16. Is it better to rent or to buy a home?
17. Are e-books as good as paper books?
18. Should physical education be compulsory?
19. Is it better to be a morning person or a night owl?
20. Should children have a set bedtime?
21. Are team sports better than individual sports?
22. Is fast food ever a reasonable choice?
23. Should everyone learn basic first aid?
24. Is a small group of close friends better than many acquaintances?
25. Should there be a four-day working week?

Interesting debate topics and debate questions

1. Should social media platforms verify the age of every user?
2. Is artificial intelligence more of an opportunity or a threat?
3. Should there be a limit on screen time for adults?
4. Is it better to specialise deeply or to know a bit about everything?
5. Should cities ban cars from their centres?
6. Is space exploration worth the cost?
7. Should companies be allowed to track what you do online?
8. Should tipping be replaced by higher wages?
9. Is it better to learn from failure or from success?
10. Should we colonise Mars?
11. Should exams be replaced by coursework?
12. Is remote work good for society?
13. Should there be a maximum wage?
14. Are self-driving cars a good idea?
15. Should museums return objects to the countries they came from?
16. Is cash better than card?
17. Should algorithms decide what news you see?
18. Is nuclear power the answer to climate change?
19. Should universities be free?
20. Is talent or hard work more important?
21. Should we edit human genes to prevent disease?
22. Are influencers a real job?
23. Should there be an age limit for political leaders?
24. Is it better to have one career or several?
25. Should everyone be required to do a year of community service?

Debate topics about technology

1. Should there be a right to disconnect from work email after hours?
2. Should AI-generated art be allowed in competitions?
3. Is it ethical to use facial recognition in public places?
4. Should children under 13 be banned from social media?
5. Should software have a legal duty to be secure?
6. Is streaming better for music than buying it?
7. Should we trust AI to make medical decisions?
8. Should there be a tax on robots that replace workers?
9. Is online anonymity good for the internet?
10. Should schools teach coding as a core subject?
11. Are smartphones making us less patient?
12. Should self-driving cars protect passengers or pedestrians first?
13. Should every product be repairable by law?
14. Is it fair for companies to use your data to train AI?
15. Will books survive another hundred years?
16. Should voting be possible from your phone?
17. Is it better to own your music and films or to stream them?
18. Should there be an age rating for AI chatbots?
19. Should governments run their own social networks?
20. Is the metaverse a real future or a passing idea?

Debate topics for teens and students

1. Should students grade their teachers?
2. Should schools have later start times?
3. Is a gap year a good idea?
4. Should part-time jobs be encouraged during school?
5. Should there be a limit on homework hours?
6. Should schools teach personal finance?
7. Are grades a fair measure of learning?
8. Should students be allowed to choose all their subjects?
9. Should school canteens ban junk food?
10. Is competition in school good for students?
11. Should every student learn a musical instrument?
12. Should attendance be optional at university?
13. Should exams be open-book?
14. Should there be more or fewer school holidays?
15. Is it better to study at home or abroad?

Debate topics about ethics and society

1. Is it ever right to break the law?
2. Should voting be compulsory?
3. Should zoos exist?
4. Is it wrong to buy fast fashion?
5. Should the rich pay a much higher share of tax?
6. Is universal basic income a good idea?
7. Should animals have legal rights?
8. Is it fair to judge historical figures by today’s values?
9. Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
10. Should we ban advertising aimed at children?
11. Is charity a duty or a choice?
12. Should there be a limit on how much a person can inherit?
13. Is it better to forgive or to hold people accountable?
14. Should public transport be free?
15. Is loyalty to a company an outdated idea?
16. Should there be a ban on single-use plastics?
17. Is it ethical to keep secrets from friends for their own good?
18. Should elite sports be separated from national identity?
19. Should everyone have the right to a paid holiday?
20. Are borders a good thing?

Controversial debate topics

These divide people for real reasons. Use them with someone who wants a serious discussion, agree on the rules first, and stay on the argument rather than the person. With a stranger who has not signed up for this, choose another section.

1. Should the death penalty exist anywhere?
2. Should recreational drugs be legalised?
3. Is censorship ever justified?
4. Should there be limits on free speech?
5. Should healthcare be entirely public?
6. Is nationalism a positive force?
7. Should animals be used in medical research?
8. Should there be a global government?
9. Is it ethical to eat meat?
10. Should military service be compulsory?
11. Should billionaires exist?
12. Should governments be able to read encrypted messages?
13. Is it right to have children in a world with climate change?
14. Should assisted dying be legal?
15. Should we ban private schools?
16. Should there be quotas to correct historical inequality?
17. Should countries close their borders during a pandemic?
18. Is it acceptable for governments to lie for national security?
19. Should surveillance cameras be everywhere if they reduce crime?
20. Should the internet be regulated like television?

Debating with a stranger online

A random chat is a good place for a friendly debate: nobody has a reputation to protect, and you can take the side you find harder. Start with a fun or easy topic, agree to argue rather than fight, and take turns. On RandomHey you can add “debate” or a topic like “philosophy” as an interest before you start, and matching prefers people who chose the same. Text chat gives both of you time to think; video makes it feel like a real conversation.

Keep it about the argument, never about the person, and never share personal details to make a point. If a debate turns into insults, use Block or press Next. For the deeper questions behind many of these topics, see philosophical questions, and for lighter material hypothetical questions.