I think it depends on how often you talk to someone.

If you are chatting to people you haven't seen for a while, then yes, it becomes "data dumps", as you catch up.

If it's people you meet every week, it's relaxed small talk; funny stories about stuff that's happened recently, gossip about mutual friends, and grumbling about the govt and the state of the world.

I think during the pandemic, people got out of the habit of meeting regularly.