Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is often considered to be the generation that’s going to change everything – save the planet, attain world peace, establish equality, the list goes on. Gen Z has been burdened with the failures of its predecessors and is expected to live up to all these expectations without crumbling under the crushing weight of a dying world. But is Gen Z actually as environmentally conscious, woke, and progressive as thought to be? Or have they turned their backs on everyone’s hopes and dreams? And why is everyone but Gen Z seemingly able to rid themselves of all responsibility without consequence?
Woke or Fast Asleep?
When Greta Thunberg started protesting for climate justice in 2018, she represented a beacon of light in an ever more grim world – a beacon that quickly garnered momentum around the entire globe. Young people everywhere started standing up for their future. During this time, Gen Z was beginning to be seen as changemakers. In accordance with the ongoing climate strikes, Gen Z largely voted for green parties in the 2019 European Election. Youth voter turnout and support for green parties reached historic highs in several countries, with overall turnout among under 25-year-olds increasing by 14% compared to 2014.
But five years later, it seems that the tables have turned. In the 2024 European Election, far-right parties across Europe performed exceptionally well, especially among young people. This came as quite a shock to many, as the far-right is generally associated with older generations. In Germany, the AfD scored 16% of votes from 16-24 year-olds, an increase of 11% compared to 2019. In France, 32% of young people voted for Rassemblement National (“National Rally”). In Poland, support for Konfederacja (“Confederation”) rose to 20%, up from 9% in 2019. One in four lawmakers in the European Parliament now belongs to the far-right, alongside many more from the conservative moderate-right side. Similarly, in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, 56% of men and 40% of women between 18 and 29 voted for Trump. Among youth voters, Harris was ahead by only 6%. Additionally, turnout among young people dropped to 42%.
It seems that Gen Z might be as conservative as any other generation. So then, what could be the reason for that? Perhaps Gen Z is beginning to admit defeat, no longer believing that the world can be fixed or that they have any power to make a difference. Gen Z has made their demands loud and clear, standing up for themselves time and time again. But is the fight still worth it after all these years when it has hardly amounted to any successes? If nobody really seems to care and the world feels like it’s taking three steps back each day, perhaps it’s just easier to fall into the trap of believing right-wing ideologies that promise safety and stability than to continue trusting once-held hopes and dreams. Gen Z is tired and disappointed.
Carrying the Weight of the World
Gen Z is often labelled as “digital natives” – the first generation to grow up with the internet. This connectedness is a key factor in forming political opinions and fueling activism. In fact, it was a key contributor to Fridays For Future’s popularity. But in the face of social media, it’s impossible to escape the incoming news of a world that’s falling apart. On top of housing crises, inflation, and one “hottest summer since the beginning of time” after another, people can now witness wars and genocides unfold in real time just by opening their platform of choice. There’s never been a time where everything that’s happening in the world has been so well documented through photos and videos. While still processing the latest news, the next crisis floods your screen immediately. When you can see all the suffering happening live from the comfort of your home, it’s especially frustrating when nobody seems to care. It’s no wonder that all of this takes a toll on people’s mental health. This worry and anxiety is not exclusive to young people, but Gen Z is more susceptible due to the constant exposure to crises through social media. When it comes to climate change, several studies have shown that it affects Gen Z’s mental well-being tremendously. The Lancet study, which surveyed thousands of 16-25-year-olds across 10 countries, found that 85% are at least moderately worried about climate change, 58% are very or extremely worried, 69% say that climate change will influence where they choose to live, 67% believe it will affect their career choices, and 52% are hesitant about having children. Additionally, 43% report that climate change impacts their mental health, while 38% say it negatively affects their daily functioning, including the ability to focus at work or school, to sleep, eat, and maintain relationships. More than half of respondents believe that humanity is doomed.
The question that remains then is: if Gen Z is so anxious about their future, why aren’t they voting in accordance with this anymore? In the 2024 elections, both in the U.S. and EU, the economy emerged as one of the top concerns, including among Gen Z. Compared to older generations, young people today find it disproportionately difficult to afford housing and find a job. Even if the impending climate disasters and humanitarian crises aren’t accounted for, Gen Z’s future is insecure. Perhaps Gen Z is just trying to survive in this world, perhaps they’re not so different from any other generation. Although there are trends that point to the contrary, Gen Z is politically engaged and does care about the world – a lot. However, with rising living costs and politicians who don’t seem to be concerned about young people, it’s proving to be difficult to remain hopeful. After all, after 6 years of Fridays For Future protests, very little has changed. Maybe it’s not Gen Z turning their back on the world, but the world turning its back on Gen Z. So, why should they keep fighting?
