150 Controversial Debate Topics

Controversial debate topics are always interesting! Hearing both sides of a passionate or heated argument can be eye-opening and can help open the minds of others to a new perspective! Whether in public schools or private schools, many topics can be debated by students that can have varied viewpoints and opinions. Check out this extensive list of 150 controversial issues and debate questions which are sure to spark ongoing discussion! 

Social Topics: 

1. Is it fair to expect people to take drug tests in order to receive government assistance? 

2. Has technology had an impact on the level of laziness in society?

Learn More: Teens Love To Know

3. Should the death penalty still exist?

Learn More: 5-Star Essays

4. Should voting should be required for all citizens?

Learn More: Owlcation

5. Should the voting age be lowered?

Learn More: College Essay

6. Is the minimum wage a fair, and reasonable, livable wage in the United States?

Learn More: ESL Activity

7. How can cyberbullying be prevented? 

Learn More: My Assignment Help

8. Will cryptocurrency take the place of our current currency?

Learn More: College Vine

9. Should a specific daily leisure time be exchanged for a yearly vacation?

Learn More: Assignments4U

10. Is the best government structure democracy?

Learn More: Assignments4U

11. Should same-sex marriage be allowed?

Learn More: The Top Tens

12. Should drug legalization happen in the United States?

Learn More: The Top Tens

13. Does social media have an impact on mental illness?

Learn More: Custom Essay Meister

14. Do white people have a different perspective than people of other races?

Learn More: Original from me

15. Will public libraries disappear in time?

Learn More: Kialo Edu

16. Is world peace even a remote possibility?

Learn More: Group Discussion Ideas

17. Is it wrong for devices to listen to your conversations?

Learn More: King Essays

18. Human trafficking is one of the greatest problems in our current society.

Learn More: Your Dictionary

19. Should immigrants automatically be granted citizenship?

20. Are immigrants a problem or a benefit?

Learn More: Paper Per Hour

21. Is gun control fair and appropriate?

Learn More: Assignment Help Pro

22. People should be fined for crimes based on their income.

Learn More: Father Prada 

23. Should abortion be considered acceptable if the unborn baby is sick?

Learn More: Papers Owl

24. Can blind people be considered racist?

Learn More: Homework Lab

25. Is art therapy beneficial to mental health wellness?

Learn More: Write Any Papers

26. Smartphones can actually damage our IQs. 

Learn More: LA County Library

27. Is it ethical for doctors to promote medications?

Learn More: Make A Stand

28. Is it fair for people without health insurance to still receive health care?

Learn More: Make A Stand

29. Is space exploration still important?

Learn More: Parenting First Cry

30. Educators should be paid more than professional athletes. 

Learn More: Elementary Edu

Science, Technology, and Environmental Topics:

31. Do aliens really exist? 

Learn More: My Speech Class

32. Is animal testing something that should be completely banned?

Learn More: College Essay

33. Is plastic something we should still be making?

Learn More: Online Schools Center

34. Should all people have the right to internet access?

Learn More: College Vine

35. Is our society too reliant on technology?

Learn More: Busy Teacher

36. Should there be a limit on how many plastic bags can be used by each person?

Learn More: Mom Junction

37. Cybersecurity is not very protective. 

Learn More: Essay Pay

38.  Is global warming something that can be prevented?

Learn More: Shemmassian Consulting

39. Electric vehicles can solve the issue of pollution. 

Learn More: Handmade Writing

40. Technology isolates people and makes them lonely. 

Learn More: Handmade Writing

Health Topics:

41. Considering obese people, should obesity be considered a personal problem or more of a problem of society for American life?

Learn More: Online Schools Center

42. Should there be a legal age for teens to drink energy drinks?

Learn More: My Assignment Help

43. Should abortion be allowed? 

Learn More: Assignments4U

44. Should vaccinations be mandatory for educational institutions and job places?

Learn More: My Perfect Paper

45. Because Covid is so widespread, should everyone be required to get the vaccine?

Learn More: Group Discussion Ideas

46. Dieting is a serious danger to your overall health.

Learn More: Essay Writer For You

47. Should marijuana be allowed for use recreationally?

Learn More: King Essays

48. Should junk food and fast food be banned in schools?

Learn More: Essay Pay

49. You should be able to buy HIV tests at the store, like pregnancy tests.

Learn More: Elimu Centre

50. Should soda be banned?

Learn More: Everything Mom

51. Is genetic testing immoral?

Learn More: Your Dictionary

52. Is suicide assistance immoral for terminally ill patients?

Learn More: Your Dictionary

53. Should there be a limit on how many pets people can own?

Learn More: Teach English Abroad

54. Would be taxing sugary and junk foods prevent obesity?

Learn More: New Milford PS

55. Should fast food restaurants be banned?

Learn More: New Milford PS

Education Topics:

56. Should a college education be paid for by the federal government?

57. Are private schools better than public schools?

Learn More: Research.com

58. Is online schooling better than traditional schooling for public school students?

Learn More: 5-Star Essays

59. Should teachers be allowed to carry guns to work each day?

Learn More: Owlcation

60. Should homework still be given in K-12 schools in this day and age?

Learn More: ESL Activity

61. Should K-12 schools require students to take a whole course about responsibility?

Learn More: Edu Birdie

62. Is corporal punishment in schools a fair thing to keep around?

Learn More: Busy Teacher

63. Would it be better for students to wear school uniforms?

Learn More: Time For Kids

64. Should religious beliefs be kept out of schools completely?

Learn More: original from me 

65. Should public service work be a punishment for teenagers who get into trouble at school?

Learn More: original from me 

66. Should all fees be stopped for schooling?

Learn More: Kialo Edu

67. Condoms should be available at school.

Learn More: Best Speech Topics

68. Should all students be provided with laptops at school?

69. Should the high school where students go, also provide child care for students with children of their own?

Learn More: My Speech Class

70. School should only be four days per week. 

Learn More: Everything Mom

71. Should all students be required to experience work life by getting a part-time job?

Learn More: Assignment Help Pro

72. Teachers should be allowed to carry guns as protection. 

Learn More: Father Prada

73. Should students be tracked online at school?

Learn More: Child Fun

74. Should cell phones be allowed in classrooms?

Learn More: Child Fun

75. Should girls be confined to an all-girls school?

Learn More: Shemmassian Consulting

76. Should schools allow personal days for students when they need a break?

Learn More: Time For Kids

77. Should charter schools be banned?

Learn More: Homework Lab

78. Is cheating ok if you studied too?

Learn More: Edsys.in

79. Students should be able to choose to skip a grade if they want.

Learn More: Edsys.in

80. Video games should take the place of assignments at school. 

Learn More: LA County Library

Other Interesting Topics:

81. Is dance really a sport?

Learn More: My Speech Class

82. Should there be a minimum age for a babysitter?

Learn More: English Club

83. Should a parent have the right to pierce their child’s ears?

Learn More: English Club

84. Should nuclear weapons be allowed in any way or should they be totally banned?

Learn More: The Tech Edvocate

85. Should violent video games be banned for children of certain ages if they display too much aggression and violence?

Learn More: My Perfect Paper

86. Should middle school students have a cell phone?

Learn More: Time For Kids

87. Are beauty contests an ethical issue?

Learn More: Mom Junction

88. Should state borders still exist?

Learn More: Essay Writer For You

89. Couples should not be allowed to adopt from overseas countries.

Learn More: Best Speech Topics

90. Children are given too many trophies in present-day times. 

Learn More: Tefllemon

91. Cell phones shouldn’t be given to children under the age of 16.

Learn More: Tefllemon

92. Hunting should be better controlled in only certain areas. 

Learn More: Elimu Centre

93. Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

Learn More: Father Prada

94. Should pregnant teenagers be allowed to keep their babies?

Learn More: Teach English Abroad

95. Should homeless people be allowed to keep pets?

Learn More: Teach English Abroad

96. Children need virtual recess instead of physical recess.

Learn More: Elementary Edu

97. Is a woman’s place within a home to take care of the kids and the home?

Learn More: Ireland Assignment Help

98. Is suicide ever the answer?

Learn More: Ireland Assignment Help

99. Should computer gaming be considered a sport?

Learn More: Teaching In Korean University

100. The world would be more productive with more women leaders.

Learn More: Teaching In Korean University

101. Boarding school is harmful to mental health and should be banned. 

Learn More: Best Assignment Writer

102. Should citizens who are eligible to vote and don’t, be fined? 

Learn More: Best Assignment Writer

103. Children should be taught about different forms of sexuality. 

Learn More: Writing Universe

104. Students should never be allowed to be expelled from school. 

Learn More: Writing Universe

105. Does the amount of streetlights in a neighborhood correlate with the amount of crime?

Learn More: Writing Universe

106. Should underage repeat offenders be tried as adults in court?

Learn More: Writing Universe

107. Is health care in prison up to standards?

Learn More: Writing Universe

108. The Olympics is outdated and should stop.

Learn More: Parenting First Cry

109. College students should be drug tested regularly. 

Learn More: Bright Link Prep

110. Exams should be given online in the comfort of your own home.

Learn More: Bright Link Prep

Arts and Culture:

111. Do video games contribute to youth violence?

112. Should cultural artifacts be returned to their country of origin?

113. Is fashion a form of art?

114. Does the accessibility of music streaming devalue artists’ work?

115. Should movies and TV shows be more politically correct?

116. Are awards shows like the Oscars still relevant?

117. Does the rise of e-books devalue the traditional book industry?

118. Can art be separated from the artist?

119. Should public funding be used for the arts?

120. Is it important to preserve traditional forms of art in the digital age?

Economic Issues:

121. Should companies be taxed more heavily for environmental damage?

122. Is a cashless society a good idea?

123. Should countries adopt a four-day workweek?

124. Can trickle-down economics effectively boost an economy?

125. Are trade unions still relevant today?

126. Should countries cancel student debt?

127. Is economic globalization beneficial for all countries involved?

128. Should governments invest more in public transportation?

129. Can entrepreneurship solve unemployment issues?

130. Is it ethical for companies to profit from healthcare?

Environmental Issues:

131. Are zoos ethical in the context of animal rights?

132. Should hydraulic fracking be banned due to environmental concerns?

133. Is organic farming truly better for the environment?

134. Should there be stricter regulations on pesticide use?

135. Is the current focus on renewable energy overshadowing the need for energy conservation?

136. Are electric vehicles the best solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

137. Should countries be held accountable for their historical carbon emissions?

138. Does ecotourism benefit or harm the environment?

139. Is overpopulation a key environmental concern?

140. Should we invest more in space exploration as a solution to Earth’s resources running out?

Global Affairs:

141. Are trade wars beneficial or harmful for countries involved?

142. Should NATO’s role be reevaluated in the 21st century?

143. Can sanctions effectively deter countries from breaching international laws?

144. Is it ethical to use drones in warfare?

145. Should the International Criminal Court have more power?

146. Does the concept of ‘national sovereignty’ hinder global cooperation?

147. Are the Sustainable Development Goals realistic?

148. Is the concept of a ‘global citizen’ feasible?

149. Should immigration laws be more lenient?

150. Can international diplomacy effectively address climate change?