"Fed Up with Politics" - Is That Just a Teenager Thing? Understanding the True Desires of the Youth
Youthful spirits yearning for their desires - Insights into the genuine aspirations of today's young generations
By Aljoscha Prange
Tribe of complainers and lazybones - that's the common stigma attached to the younger generations. But what's the reality? A nationwide study, conducted by the Bertelsmann Foundation in collaboration with the Institute for Social Work e.V. (ISA), sheds a different light on the matter. Almost 1,000 kids and teenagers between the ages of 10 and 15 participated, answering questions about their needs for a good life and their level of satisfaction. The result? A surprising number are satisfied (around half or 49.3 percent were "quite satisfied," while nearly 46 percent found their life "very satisfying"). Only a mere 5 percent rated their life as "not satisfying."
Economically Speaking, Are Young People Lazy? "All Stereotypes about Generation Z Can Be Debunked"
If you believe the stereotypes, young people place little value on hard work. In contrast, the survey reveals that about one-third of them named social relationships with peers as the most important factor for a good life. Family relationships follow, with around one in five participants considering them the most important.
The desire for social connections mirrors the financial priorities of youth. For nine out of ten respondents, money is essential for shared activities with friends. Clothing, cosmetics, technology, hobbies, and the internet and phone make up the list. However, only about 20 percent of parents cover the costs for leisure activities with their children's peers. The rest often have to finance these activities themselves.
Monetary Worries Haunt Many
Enough money for the "trendy things" isn't always a guarantee, leading to financial anxieties for almost half of the participants (46.4%) - they often worry about their family's financial situation, and 49% admitted that they were unable to afford something their friends could.
It's More than Just "Trendy Things"
Money troubles aren't the only source of stress for young people. Lukas Thiehoff from the Youth Experts Team (JEx-Team) at the Bertelsmann Foundation points to school, grades, homework, exams, global conflicts, climate change, and the rise of right-wing populism as potential sources of stress. "Young people shouldn't have to go through this. They should be free from fear and control," he stresses.
Grades and Homework - Unfamiliar Concepts?
The majority of participants (52.3 percent) find grades either unnecessary or completely unnecessary for their learning process. Homework fares even worse - 63.7 percent confess to needing it "little" or "not at all" for good learning.
Co-determination and Political Participation
Romance Bassingha, a member of the JEx-team, longs for a younger Bundestag and more youth participation in politics. "Tobacco lobby, car lobby - there's a lobby for everything. But not for students and young people. I wish there were more of us in the Bundestag and more participation from us," she explains.
Not Lazy at All
The desire for political co-determination is echoed by many young people. According to Thiehoff, they face a double standard: "On the one hand, it's said that young people should be ambitious and willing to work. But they're not offered a promising future perspective." It's about self-realization and living a fulfilling life, not just "40 to 60 hours of work and burning out."
Source: ntv.de
- Youth
- Children
- Bertelsmann Foundation
- Federal Government
- Studies
- School
- Family
Additional Insights:
- According to research related to young adults' subjective financial well-being, caring for financial matters, actively saving money, and financial responsibility are significant components affecting their overall financial well-being and future security.
- The Bertelsmann Foundation highlights the importance of addressing young people's financial needs and including their voices in policymaking to support their economic futures better.
- The study conducted by the Bertelsmann Foundation in collaboration with the Institute for Social Work e.V. (ISA) indicates that a surprising number of youth are satisfied with their lives, with almost half finding their life "very satisfying."
- Contrary to common stereotypes, social relationships with peers are the most important factor for a good life for about one-third of the youth surveyed, with family relationships following closely.
- Money is essential for shared activities with friends for nine out of ten respondents, with clothing, cosmetics, technology, hobbies, and the internet and phone making up the list.
- Financial anxieties are a significant concern for nearly half of the participants, with many worrying about their family's financial situation and feeling unable to afford things their friends can.
- Lukas Thiehoff from the Youth Experts Team (JEx-Team) at the Bertelsmann Foundation highlights that stressors for young people include school, grades, homework, exams, global conflicts, climate change, and the rise of right-wing populism.
- According to Romance Bassingha from the JEx-team, young people desire more political co-determination and participation in government, with the wish for a younger Bundestag and greater youth involvement in policymaking.
In addition, research related to young adults' financial well-being emphasizes the importance of considering their financial needs and incorporating their voices in policymaking to support their economic futures.
