Generational divides have long existed, but new research suggests young people are more misunderstood than ever by older generations. While most Gen Z people—born from 1997 to 2012—described themselves in a recent survey as ‘resilient’, respondents aged 30 and over said this generation was ‘entitled’. Other words Gen Zers most used to describe themselves were ‘unlucky’ and ‘misunderstood’. But older people disagreed, describing the younger generation as ‘anxious’ and ‘lost’.
Survey Details
More than 12,000 people took part in the survey for the Rest Is Politics podcast, which is set to launch a new series—The Gen Z Story—exploring the challenges facing younger people. However, in better news for reaching across divides, a majority from each generation agreed with each other that social media was a destructive force. More than four in five 16 to 22-year-olds said it was bad for mental health, rising to more than nine in ten among 23 to 29-year-olds. Gen Z is often known for spending a lot of time on their mobile phones and social media, but a majority said they thought it was a destructive force.
Political Perspectives
Former Deputy PM Angela Rayner said Gen Z people feel frustrated because they 'can't change the system'. Alastair Campbell, a co-host of the Rest Is Politics podcast, said Gen Z 'is frustrated, they feel ignored by the main political parties'. And 58% of those aged 30 and over said they ‘strongly agree’ that social media is destructive. Many also felt social media was damaging relationships and family life. Nearly three-quarters of 16 to 22-year-olds, and more than eight in ten 23 to 29-year-olds, agreed that it has increased loneliness or reduced the time they spend with family and friends.
Calls for Regulation
Support for tighter restrictions was also strong, with 73% of 16 to 22-year-olds and 82% of 23 to 29-year-olds agreeing that social media should be banned for under-16s, piling pressure on ministers to introduce a full-on ban. The House of Lords has proposed a complete social media ban for under-16s, like the one that exists in Australia. But MPs have overturned that, saying a government consultation needs to conclude first, with ministers refusing to say whether it will introduce a full-on ban or just restrictions.
Intergenerational Solidarity
A majority of older people (74%) also said they agreed that the struggles young people face today are as serious as they say, while 84% said they are worried about young people’s job prospects and future earning potential. Strikingly, 60.2% also said they would support policies that might reduce their own wealth or assets, such as a wealth tax or changes to inheritance, if it meant young people had better prospects.
Voices from the Series
Former Deputy PM Angela Rayner, who has been interviewed for the series, said: 'They [Gen Z] are our future. I’ve got skin in the game, I’ve got three of them at home. They need to feel that politics is for them. I go round schools and colleges all the time—the frustration for me is, they feel that no matter how hard they try, they can’t change the system. Whereas actually they don’t realise how much power they have…they need to feel, it’s not just about activism, it’s being able to change things and having an investment in our future, because more and more young people are feeling there isn’t an investment in their future now.'
Alastair Campbell, a co-host of the Rest Is Politics podcast, said: 'Since starting The Rest Is Politics, we’ve had messages every week about and from Gen Z. They’re frustrated, they feel ignored by the main political parties and they have a lot to say.' The survey included more than 6,000 Gen Zers and 6,000 people aged 30 and over.
