If you read the article and the questions asked on the underlying survey (linked within the article), there is no differentiation. It's more about topics that concern the respondent.
I wonder how that would change if you omitted Covid-19 related engagement. I bet Americans were more engaged with Central Asia in 2002 than they were in 1999.
cazique t1_ivzwozg wrote
Reply to comment by ProLibertateCH in Americans are more engaged with science news than in 2017 by BlitzOrion
If you read the article and the questions asked on the underlying survey (linked within the article), there is no differentiation. It's more about topics that concern the respondent.