280 controversial debate topics and fun debate topics for all

When asked to start a debate on controversial topics, it is easy to get lost! Since students have diverse perspectives on every subject, dealing with controversial issues requires some research. Once you choose your focus and develop a thesis statement, use correct wording and do your best to narrow things down with your college debate topics! Our helpful list and tips regarding how to start a debate will provide you with guidance and a way to success! 

Do not be afraid to pursue controversial topics for college students because every debate topic is where you should overcome the stress and see the importance of communication. The tricky part, however, is to set the right tone and choose the correct wording. It is an essential skill that you must choose. According to the National Institute of Health’s statistical data, around 50% of Americans perceive political debates as a call to action and a necessity of research. The same is clear for students and universities who must debate to pursue certain ideas. 

What are good controversial debate topics to talk about? 

Almost every type of debate writing is based on critical thinking and analysis. If your college professor gives you a topic, you can still connect the main area to your experience and skills. Remember that a good debate topic is a piece of writing that follows these aspects:

– Relevant to the current events and discussed subjects. 

– Complex to a certain degree, to show both sides of the camp. 

– Use evidence and statistical data to back up your main arguments. 

– Creative writing to showcase your thesis statement. 

When you start controversial debates, you must stay relevant to your point of view and the target audience. This is why researching things well can improve your debate and help you narrow things down. 

Different types of debates 

Even if you have done public speaking before, the choice of unique debate topics can assist you in narrowing things down! Remember to take a quick look at the different types of debates: 

• Formal Debates. Here is where you must use a structure and set of rules. These are the most frequent types of debating for schools and colleges. If you have a type of discussion mentioned in the grading rubric, it is most likely a formal debate. 

• Parliamentary Debates. This type usually takes place in a legislative assembly. It is the most suitable type of communication for political talks and legislative discussions. 
• Public Debates. This is suitable for a community assignment or a group task. The most common subjects here are public events or news reports. If you want to choose easier subjects, this type of debating is suitable. 

• Lincoln-Douglas Debates. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas created these. The focus here is on moral and philosophical topics. This type of writing should be a good choice when you choose something historical or global. 

Speaking of what might be the best debate topics for every case, we recommend choosing a good statement that you can support. When you have an idea, you already have a good starting point. Now, take a look below for inspiration! 

280 Controversial debate ideas divided by subject!

To help you navigate controversial topics and spark lively discussions, we created a list of topics divided by subject. Take your time to choose the field of study that you wish to explore. It is always possible to change the wording and add something that fits your school course or something offered by your college professor. Let’s start with the basic social issues and topics unrelated to politics. 

Social issues and Non-political Debate Topics

We can discuss many diverse ideas here by starting meaningful discussions on the following:

1. The perception of poverty in the United Kingdom.
2. Gender equality in South Africa.
3. The challenges of reverse racism.
4. The pros and cons of immigration in the IT sector.
5. Donald Trump and the introduction of new LGBTQ+ challenges.
6. Death penalty challenges and discussions regarding topics for debate tasks.
7. Stricter gun control laws and controversies.
8. Gender identity and teenagers.
9. Basic human rights of children in the United Kingdom.
10. The social media and the roots of mass shootings.
11. Human cloning and the future of social equality.
12. Sexual orientation harassment case studies.
13. The pros and cons of increasing the drinking age.
14. Current events and the use of deep fakes.
15. Animal testing and the beauty industry.
16. Internet and human communication.
17. Legalization of sex work in the United States.
18. Should we be legally required to undergo cosmetic procedures for certain jobs?
19. The social aspect of exploring other planets.
20. An increase in the work hours of food chain shops.

Political and Governance Debate Topics

These interesting debate topics explore subjects like undocumented immigrants or the key reasons behind the great depression, if you wish to dive into history.

1. Capitalism and the ideological pressure.
2. The government policies that do not work.
3. The digital elections and transparency.
4. The possibility of global governance.
5. Political perception of women.
6. Automation in the national public service.
7. A political aspect of private schools.
8. The bias in death penalty choices.
9. Controversial issues in foreign relations.
10. Armed security guards and the White House.
11. Should police officers be allowed to have more detention methods?
12. Career advancement and the use of social media.
13. Donald Trump brought up complex issues.
14. Climate change issues are encountered in political debate topics.
15. A political side of student loan debt.
16. Gun control and the State of Texas.
17. Strong arguments and foul language in presidential elections.
18. Minimum wage raise for teenagers.
19. Key steps to provide a new social system.
20. DNA research and political control.

Technology and Ethics Debate Ideas

If you are majoring in IT, it is possible to research all the latest advancements and achievements. Here are some debate topics for students passionate about technology: 

1. The use of AI in education.
2. The challenges of digital privacy.
3. Surveillance cameras in private households.
4. The ethical side of technology.
5. Artificial intelligence in the field of healthcare.
6. The concept of net neutrality.
7. The challenges facing social media networks.
8. New ideas that programmers can implement.
9. The dangers offered by AI-based traffic lights.
10. Standardized testing by artificial intelligence.
11. Unhealthy focus on AI image creation.
12. Should children be allowed on social media?
13. The virtual world portrayed in popular shows.
14. The pros and cons of an online school.
15. The cyberbullying of disabled students.
16. The pros and cons of a college degree in programming.
17. Traditional schooling versus the use of technology.
18. Will robots help children with their homework?
19. Should the elderly learn technology as an obligatory way?
20. The use of programming in neural work.

Environmental Issues

You can use your personal preference ideas as you research various school topics or subjects that are brought up in the news. It can also be something you find in the newspapers or the reports related to your local community. Here are the best debate topics for students: 

1. The hoax is related to climate change.
2. Sustainability as a way of life is impossible.
3. The issue of digital pollution.
4. Biodiversity in Canada versus the United States.
5. The negative side of solar panels.
6. Can podcasts help us with climate change?
7. Our environment and team-building activities.
8. Empirical data on global warming is outdated.
9. Fossil fuels and the use of outsourcing.
10. High school students can visit primary schools to teach about our planet.
11. Debates about young influencers.
12. Exploring life on other planets is useless.
13. The pros and cons of yoga for our nature.
14. Solar energy and economics.
15. The harmful influence of living a vegan life.
16. The import and export of minerals debate.
17. Universal basic income and our environment.
18. Ocean pollution and Chinese manufacturing.
19. Analysis of environmental care plans by other students.
20. Air travel and the damage to the planet.

Science and Innovation Controversial Ideas

Science has numerous controversial topics you can start with, as most empirical data is often unclear. The best discussions can be based on the following debate topics for college students:

1. The ethical side of genetics in the United States.
2. The future and controversies of space exploration.
3. Artificial intelligence cannot replace people.
4. Biotechnology studies and the career possibilities.
5. DNA and fingerprint detection are outdated.
6. Standardized testing of scientists by AI.
7. Scientific research and student loan debt.
8. The use of automation in education.
9. Perspectives for autistic students in science.
10. The use of robots to get rid of plastic bags.
11. Immunology and the future of healthcare.
12. Lack of transparency in NASA.
13. The chemical elements of the clothes that we wear.
14. Perspectives of deep space explorations.
15. Life in a digital society and the dangers it brings.
16. Students and the impossibility of life without smartphones.
17. Scientific research on a parallel world.
18. Debates on neural language bits of presidential debates.
19. Online education and the use of templates.
20. Machine learning and human safety.

Education Debate Topics

Selecting debate topics is not an easy task when you are dealing with the field of education. While most students these days have faced certain problems, the focus must be on discussions that others can relate to and research. Here are some good debate topics:

1. The Waldorf teaching methods.
2. The dark side of online learning.
3. The pros and cons of a Christian school curriculum.
4. College professors and the violation of student rights.
5. Cyberbullying as a college issue.
6. The lack of school discipline in a modern society.
7. A possibility to abandon school uniforms in the UK.
8. Should we wear pajamas in primary schools?
9. Health insurance in school is a possibility.
10. Montessori education and social negativity.
11. The best ways to make workshop lessons more fun.
12. Can a child eat pizza during a lesson?
13. Should parents become involved in homework duties?
14. The use of smartphones in school.
15. Should students be allowed to report teachers?
16. The survival in a wild world: lessons for students.
17. Spending a day at the Christian school.
18. The role of students in a school climate.
19. The pros and cons of outdoor education.
20. Peer pressure and school online.

Philosophy and Ethics Debate Ideas

Now, if you want to choose debate topics that are much deeper than the rest, here are some good debate topics to start with:

1. Christianity and making business.
2. The concept of free will in Law.
3. AI ethics in science.
4. Airport security and personal freedoms.
5. Age gap marriage and the concept of love.
6. Making friends with a person who follows another religion.
7. Discussions about the war with the children.
8. Debates on modern morals and parenting styles.
9. Should parents discuss work with their kids?
10. The challenges of living life as a single parent.
11. Growing up in a wealthy household experience.
12. Mental health issues and managing one’s job.
13. The freedom to express a political opinion.
14. Patriotism and the freedom to talk.
15. Online security and censorship.
16. Elon Musk and the X network philosophy.
17. The ethical side of plagiarism and students.
18. Discussions of falling in love with one’s parents.
19. Debates on Asian culture followers in the West.
20. The negativity of online education methods.

Health and Medicine Topics

Some good debate topics can relate to the field of healthcare. Here are some debate questions to start with:

1. Public health problems in rural communities.
2. Mental health portrayal in the media.
3. Medical ethics when working with children.
4. Healthcare policies of the Bush administration.
5. National Health Service in the United Kingdom and Covid-19.
6. Debates on burnout cases among nurses.
7. Racial conflicts in American hospitals.
8. The use of students for tests during the PA lessons.
9. A controversial aspect of segregation in rural healing methods.
10. Traditional healing practices debates.
11. Public health problems and obesity.
12. Debates on the beauty industry.
13. The pros and cons of having a facelift.
14. The decrease in the quality of healthcare education.
15. Guarantees related to public health safety.
16. Cancer treatment and financial challenges.
17. Hospital neutrality and attitudes.
18. Male versus female levels of care.
19. An American way of healthcare.
20. The racial prejudice in healthcare.

Economic Systems Titles

Some good debate topics can be related to various economic systems. Your debates can start with the following controversial questions:

1. The dark side of capitalism and biased attitudes.
2. Learning socialism as a way of life.
3. Economic policies that should be taught at school.
4. Financial inequality and the tendency to commit crimes.
5. Cryptocurrencies ruin our economy.
6. Debates on communism as a way of economic control.
7. The necessity to study economics in high school.
8. The social guarantees and the Swiss life model.
9. Legislation of the digital economy.
10. Online media and the financial challenges.
11. Bankruptcy case study debates.
12. Microeconomics and the use of artificial intelligence.
13. Trump’s administration and economic expectations.
14. Debates on an uneven income.
15. Economic policies between the different states.
16. Debates on inequality between men and women.
17. New economic policies should be introduced.
18. Economics during the pandemic lockdown.
19. American household economics.
20. Debates on future economic models.

Global Conflicts and Security Ideas

If you choose controversial topics that relate to conflicts, make sure that you show respect and do not insult other students. Some possible debate topics can include the following current controversial topics:

1. Women do not start wars.
2. The United States and the negativity in international relations.
3. Human rights violations of native people in Canada.
4. Global peacekeeping efforts in Gaza.
5. Israel conflict and the world’s perception.
6. National security and space programs.
7. The United States’ military morals are wrong.
8. The ingredients of conflicts in South Africa.
9. British versus American conflict resolution.
10. Debates on ghetto communities in the United States.
11. The laws on gun control in the United Kingdom.
12. Debates based on military conflicts in Afghanistan.
13. Modern smartphones and a lack of security.
14. Debates based on the North Korean threat.
15. Gender wars and national security.
16. Modern safety of American railways.
17. Luxury cruise ship and security models.
18. Are we safe in our school debates?
19. The Muslim threat hoax debates.
20. The controversy surrounding wearing a hood in the United States is debated.

Future and Society: New Ideas

Most debate topics one can encounter today relate to future expectations. If you cannot find good debate topics, you can use the most controversial topics crafted by our EduBirdie experts:

1. Automation and loss of old-time jobs.
2. Job displacement because of AI-based systems.
3. Work-life balance and the use of video games.
4. ChatGPT and the future of education.
5. Online learning and the lack of tactile communication.
6. Debates on the possibility of a third world war.
7. Neurology and the use of AI.
8. Quantum physics and apparent dangers.
9. The debates on the dangers hidden by NASA engineers.
10. The possible end of the Internet era.
11. The possibility of Android people in the future.
12. Neural brain recovery with the help of robots.
13. The lessons we have learned from the Internet of Things.
14. Shamanic practices from the past we can use in the future.
15. Things we can learn from movie space travel.
16. The fears that we have already seen as reality.
17. Science fiction predictions.
18. The use of AI to compose music debates.
19. Debates on using robots in politics.
20. Can robots start future wars?

Pop Culture and Media Controversial Issues

Some debate topics can relate to the world of media and television. If you are unsure how to start debates, here are some hot topics to debate:

1. The role of media among pre-school children.
2. Television as a way to shape our body image perception.
3. The movies that depict domestic abuse.
4. The language of modern internet culture.
5. K-pop and the shaping of Western society.
6. Negative body image and the beauty industry.
7. The legacy of boy bands and the masculinity factor.
8. Debates on the use of smartphones in schools.
9. The pros and cons of watching horror movies.
10. The use of NLP on television.
11. The negativity in rap music.
12. Heavy metal and the use of religious debate topics.
13. The concept of life and death in TV series.
14. Online games and mass culture.
15. Debate topics discussed on talent shows.
16. The role of influencers on YouTube.
17. Are bloggers considered journalists?
18. The image of success on Facebook.
19. Food bloggers and the link to obesity.
20. The image of a modern digital citizen.

High School Good Debate Topics

Here is a useful list of controversial topics that you can use as a high school learner:

1. Should school uniforms be abandoned for good?
2. Can students replace teachers for a day?
3. Is studying online a replacement?
4. Why should we implement better security in schools?
5. What new subjects should we add to the curriculum?
6. Can you start a business in high school?
7. The time spent on social networks and control.
8. Video games and the damage they bring.
9. The secrecy of youth language online.
10. The surveillance cameras and teen bedrooms.
11. The use of sports in schools and healthcare.
12. Falling in love as a high school student.
13. The pros and cons of watching Netflix.
14. The most beautiful things about living in the United States.
15. The most successful campaigns aimed at teens.
16. Low morals in school.
17. Korean trends and the negativity.
18. Teens and scouting challenges.
19. Things we can learn from our grandparents.
20. Mediation as parents’ conflict resolution.

Middle School Debate Controversial Topics

Here, you can use some fun debate topics to make teachers smile. The most important thing is to debate respectfully while finding some common points and learning well. Start with these ideas: 

1. Children get too much homework.
2. If I could rule the world, then I would.
3. The future jobs that will work out.
4. Debate topics on ancient lands.
5. How to make friends with your parents.
6. Misunderstanding of old-time movies.
7. Things we can teach our parents.
8. Settling down conflicts with older siblings.
9. The pros and cons of being a blogger.
10. Starting a middle school music band.
11. Books in print are much better.
12. The violence in video games.
13. The bullying on the playground.
14. Adults do not care about youth trends.
15. The subjects we do not need at school.
16. The pros and cons of reading comic books.
17. Using robots to fight procrastination.
18. Screen time online challenges.
19. Body image challenges.
20. Team projects and individuality. 

Speaking to our younger audience, you can even request some debate questions for adults you wish to pursue. As true academic experts, we can make it suitable! 

Helpful tip: If you need to find more funny, controversial topics, we can assist you at any time! Just send us a message and let us know what you need! We can provide professional editing and correct a poor thesis statement that cannot stir up good debates. 

How to have a good debate? 

While there are pros and cons topics for students, there are still certain elements that will help you achieve the final bit: 

The most important thing is to address your audience and have sufficient patience to listen and analyze what’s being said or written. When your subject makes a statement or you have to discuss the pros and cons of AI in education, the key is to take a stand and explain what you are thinking. 

When you need extra help! 

Sometimes, you may feel stuck and not know what to do, even with the most debated topics. It is a normal situation because working with controversies is never easy. To help you, we recommend you share your essay writing in English message to get things done on time. No matter what subject you plan to choose or what disturbing idea a college professor has given you, it is possible to get timely help. Our experts are available 24/7 and know how to debate in the best way possible!