Young people support democracy but fear for its future

A clear majority of young people aged 16-29 think social media should be banned for under 16s
Two-thirds say toxic masculinity is becoming more of a problem
Most believe Britain has a racism problem

By Charlotte Morris

A major new survey of young peoples’ attitudes and priorities has found that while young people believe in democracy over dictatorship, they believe UK democracy is in trouble.

The University of Glasgow’s John Smith Centre partnered with leading UK pollster Focaldata to carry out in-depth conversations with young people aged 16-29 across the country, and to publish a poll of their attitudes and priorities.

The UK Youth Poll 2025, sponsored by Nationwide Building Society, also found that:

Young people’s anxieties are overwhelmingly due to financial issues and material needs.
There’s a strong call for ‘better politics’: more honest, more open, that delivers on young peoples’ basic needs.
Gen Z isn’t one united generation: views on politics and democracy vary hugely depending on peoples’ backgrounds.
Young men tend to be more right wing than young women, but most sit in the centre-ground
Those in work or with a degree are far more optimistic and engaged than those who are long-term unemployed, or less well educated.

While young people backed democracy over dictatorship by two to one, 63% agreed that ‘democracy in the UK is in trouble’.

Social media for under 16s should be banned, according to 67%, and 67% say toxic masculinity is becoming more common. Seventy three percent believe racism is a significant issue in UK society, and 51% agree immigration has changed their communities for the better.

Dr Elisabeth Loose, left, who led the UK Youth Poll 2025 for the John Smith Centre, said: “Young people are undoubtedly worried about the future of the UK, and they are concerned about the state of democracy.

“However, our poll makes it clear that young people are positive, they support our democratic inheritance, and many want to play a part in it – if only they were given an opportunity to do so.

“As to what young people want from politics, the answer is a more open, honest political culture which provide answers to their basic needs. This is a generation that thinks our politics is too divided and wants politicians to come up with deliverable solutions. Many young people are simply seeking the safety and security of a good job, an affordable home and the comfort of family and friends around them.”

Eddie Barnes, Director of the John Smith Centre, said: “For the JSC, a vital takeaway from the poll is the wide disparities in experience between young people depending on their region, their ethnicity, their income bracket, their gender and their education.

“This research is vital to the John Smith Centre’s mission to inspire more young people into public life – because it’s only when we understand how young people feel and think that we can do so effectively.

“A majority of young people told us they believe social media should be banned for under 16s. In interviews, young people told us social media had positives and negatives, but they were worried about its effect on their younger brothers and sisters. This finding will only add to the debate we’re having about how to manage the online world safely.”

Debbie Crosbie, Group Chief Executive Officer, Nationwide Building Society, added: “This poll is an important contribution to the conversation with young people about the issues they face today. While it’s encouraging to see so much optimism for the future, young people still face some real challenges, including financial worries and housing affordability – both topics Nationwide is working hard to address.”

James Kanagasooriam, Chief Research Officer at Focaldata, said: “This poll shows young people are a highly heterodox group and that the old narrative of a monolithic ‘generation war’ pitting young people against all older people is becoming obsolete. In fact the differences within the youth generation by class, education, gender, ethnicity and region are often more pronounced than the differences between generations. These patterns challenge any simple characterisation of Gen Z – they are largely independent minded, unexpectedly energised in the conservative flank and more willing to participate in civic life than society often assumes.”

The delivery of the poll will eventually be led by students at the University of Glasgow, taking inspiration from the annual Harvard Youth Poll, which similarly sees young people designing and publishing data on youth opinion in the USA.

The John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow was set up by the family of the late Labour leader to encourage more young people to get involved into politics, especially those who are under-represented in public life.

Key findings:

Despite everything, a majority of young people say they are optimistic and happy
- 63% say they are optimistic about their personal future; only 20% say they are pessimistic. 63% say their lives will eventually be better than their parents; only 14% say it will be worse. 72% describe themselves as either rather or very happy; only 28% say they are not very or not at all happy. But 56% say they feel anxious either daily or weekly
Young people support democracy but fear for its future.
- Democracy is backed over a dictatorship by 57% to 27%. But young people agree ‘democracy in the UK is in trouble’ by 63% to 24%
Young people’s anxieties are overwhelmingly due to financial issues and material needs.
- The top three contributors to anxiety were financial worries (37%), work pressure (23%), and job insecurity or unemployment (20%). Asked what would make them happier, the most popular answer was higher wages/ financial stability (41%). Asked to rank their top policy areas, young people raised affordable housing (38%), more investment in the NHS (36%), and lower taxes for low earners (29%)
Young people are looking for a ‘better politics’: more honest, less divided, that delivers on their basic needs
- 72% say politics is too divided; the top three ways to make politics more relevant to young people is politicians being more open and honest (36%), more young people in leadership roles (27%), and governing focussing on issues that matter to me (26%).
Gen Z isn’t one generation at all; it’s Gen “A-Z”, a highly heterodox group whose views on politics and democracy vary hugely depending on socioeconomic backgrounds.
- 70% of those working full-time are optimistic about their personal future vs 44% of those not in work; 34% of young people with degree level or above qualifications strongly believe their vote can help shape their local area vs 19% of those without; only 21% of people in full-time work had done no political activity in the last 12 months, compared to 54% of those out of work long-term.

And on key current issues:

Young people overwhelmingly believe Britain has a racism problem
- 73% believe racism is a significant issue in UK society vs 20%.
A clear majority of young people think social media should be banned for under 16s
- 67% say social media for under 16 should be banned vs 28% who disagree.
They also agree toxic masculinity is becoming more of a problem
- 67% say toxic masculinity is becoming more common vs 21%