Current survey findings from the Heart for Students & Storytellers at UCLA reveal that security is the foremost precedence for Technology Z, adopted carefully by kindness, self-acceptance, and delight.
The survey, which engaged folks aged 10 to 24, provides a novel window into the considerations and values shaping the views of at present’s youth.
Core Values of Technology Z
As analysts delve into the components influencing the youth vote within the upcoming 2024 elections, this examine gives pertinent context.
Yalda Uhls, an adjunct professor of psychology at UCLA and founding father of CSS, highlights that younger persons are at the moment dealing with a cascade of crises.
Amongst these are rising incidents of college violence, environmental degradation, financial uncertainty, and the enduring impacts of a world pandemic.
Uhls factors out that many younger males, who’ve encountered varied challenges for years, reply to messages that resonate with their core fears.
Hope and neighborhood messages can solely take root when folks really feel safe and grounded.
The survey identifies empathy as a core worth, with the will to deal with others kindly rating because the second most vital goal, simply behind the necessity for security.
This reinforces a dedication inside Gen Z to values that counteract the narrative that their social media engagement is solely about aspiring to wealth and fame, echoing the lives of admired influencers.
The examine additionally emphasizes the significance of enjoyment, self-acceptance, and bodily health, reflecting a rising curiosity in each psychological and bodily well being amongst younger folks.
The rise of health platforms like #FitTok and lighthearted actions corresponding to #BratSummer additional underscore this inclination towards wellness and recreation.
Shifting Priorities and Social Context
Apparently, whereas security stands out as a major concern amongst younger folks total, the values of kindness and self-acceptance achieve traction as they transition into maturity, indicating a possible shift in priorities.
Analyzing responses via the lens of race and ethnicity reveals that younger folks of colour prioritize security above all else.
In distinction, white and Latino members have a tendency to position larger emphasis on kindness than on security.
This examine additionally uncovers gender distinctions: boys are inclined to worth enjoyment and kindness extra, whereas ladies and non-binary youth prioritize security as their predominant concern.
These variations align with knowledge from the Facilities for Illness Management, which point out that feminine and LGBTQ+ highschool college students face considerably increased charges of violence, psychological well being challenges, and suicidal ideas in comparison with their friends.
Conclusion and Implications
Alisha Hines, CSS’s director of analysis, notes that the findings highlight Gen Z’s quest for self-acceptance amid social media pressures whereas emphasizing well being and delight.
This displays a mature and balanced outlook on life.
This survey bridges psychological analysis and media creation, aiming to domesticate a greater surroundings for younger folks.
Uhls stresses the importance of research-driven insights and the hazards of stereotypes in shaping our understanding of at present’s youth.
The aspirations of at present’s teenagers are complicated and significant, transcending prevailing social media narratives.
It’s important for adults to have interaction with younger folks in supportive methods, providing assets inside colleges, communities, and digital areas.
This exploration is a part of the 2024 Teenagers and Screens Report, an annual, complete examine of adolescent interactions with media.
The survey included 1,644 younger folks aged 10 to 24, with a diverse age illustration performed in August 2024.
