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Young people believe in democracy but fear for its future in UK, finds survey of youth opinion

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

The University of Glasgow's John Smith Center 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 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 people's basic needs.
• Gen Z isn't one united generation: views on politics and democracy vary hugely depending on people's backgrounds.

Young men tend to be more right wing than young women, but most sit in the center 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, who led the UK Youth Poll 2025 for the John Smith Center, 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 Center, 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 Center'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 characterization of Gen Z—they are largely independent minded, unexpectedly energized 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 U.S.