Entitled or misunderstood? Poll finds generational divides grow wider as Gen Z consider themselves ‘resilient’ but older generation say they’re ‘entitled’ and ‘anxious’
Generational divides have long existed.
But new research shows that young people are more misunderstood than ever by older generations.
While most Generation Zers born between 1997 and 2012 described themselves as ‘resilient’ in a recent survey, respondents aged 30 and over said this generation was ‘entitled’.
Other words that Generation Z used most to describe themselves were ‘unlucky’ and ‘misunderstood’.
However, older people disagreed and described the younger generation as ‘anxious’ and ‘lost’.
More than 12,000 people took part in the survey for the Rest Is Politics podcast, which will launch The Gen Z Story, a new series exploring the challenges facing young people.
However, in better news across divides, majorities from every generation agreed that social media is a disruptive force.
More than four in five 16 to 22 year olds said it was bad for their mental health, rising to over nine in ten 23 to 29 year olds.
Generation Z is generally known to spend a lot of time on mobile phones and social media, but the majority said they think it is a destructive force.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner says Generation Z is frustrated because they “can’t change the system”
Alastair Campbell, co-host of the Rest Is Politics podcast, said Gen Z were ‘disappointed, they feel ignored by the main political parties’.
58 percent of those aged 30 and over said ‘strongly agree’.
Many also felt that social media was damaging to relationships and family life.
Almost three-quarters of 16 to 22-year-olds and more than eight in ten 23 to 29-year-olds admitted it had increased loneliness or reduced the time they spent with family and friends.
Support for tighter restrictions was also strong; 73% of 16 to 22 year olds and 82% of 23 to 29 year olds agreed that social media should be banned for under 16s, putting pressure on ministers to introduce a full ban.
The House of Lords has recommended a complete social media ban for under-16s, like in Australia.
But while MPs said consultation with the government should be finalized first, ministers overturned that decision by refusing to say whether it would impose a full ban or just restrictions.
A majority of seniors (74 percent) said they agree that the challenges facing young people today are as serious as they say, while 84 percent said they are concerned about young people’s job prospects and future earning potential.
A striking 60.2% said they would support policies that could reduce their wealth or assets, such as a wealth tax or change in inheritance, if it meant young people had better opportunities.
Interviewed for the series, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: ‘They [Gen Z] is our future.
‘I’ve got skin in the game, I’ve got three in my house. They need to feel that politics is for them.
‘I’m always traveling around schools and colleges; The frustration for me is that no matter how hard they try, they feel like they can’t change the system.
‘They don’t realize how much power they actually have… they need to feel, it’s not just about activism, it’s about being able to change things and investing in our future, because more and more young people feel like there’s no investment in their future anymore.’
Alastair Campbell, co-host of the Rest Is Politics podcast, said: ‘Since we started The Rest Is Politics, we’ve been receiving messages from and about Generation Z every week.
‘They are frustrated, they feel ignored by the main political parties and they have a lot to say.’
More than 6,000 Gen Zers and 6,000 people aged 30 and over participated in the survey.
