The poll found that while Gen Z follows politics closely, they also believe that the current political system has little to offer their generation,

Nearly half of Zoomers talk about politics and current events with their close friends at least once a week. But among voting-age Americans under 25, only 30 percent said they would “definitely” be voting in the November elections, compared with 60 percent of Americans 26 or older.

Gen Z is more likely to derive pride and value from their personal interests, their communities, and their careers instead of national politics. “We saw this constant theme, that one of their goals is simply independence,”

a key takeaway was that many Zoomers believe that officials in power, regardless of party, simply do not represent the interests of young people today. They said they wanted politicians to prioritize tangible economic and social outcomes rather than culture war fights, to avoid incrementalism, and to prove that their votes actually count in a... See more

Of the students interviewed, only about two in five (39 percent) say that their K-12 education prepared them to succeed in their work or life. And only 37 percent said the same about becoming “an active and engaged citizen.” Only a third said their education prepared them to live “a balanced and happy life.” And a third of Zoomers do not believe... See more

By 2028, Millennials and Gen Z will combine to become the largest voting age population in the nation. Even with that massive generational shakeup looming, there remains precious little research and in-depth analysis on how younger Americans think about politics and society.

But, as with politics, the very same Zoomers expressed optimism that schooling could be changed for the better. It seems contradictory, but Gen Z has both a dim view of America’s institutions and a reservoir of hope that the country can find a way to do better by its youngest citizens.

“There’s this idea of civil discourse and of wanting to work on things together. To have equal opportunity and to be collaborative and to be part of a community. And I think that’s pretty unique to this generation and it’s hopefully exciting for the future of this country.”

Asked to rank their top issues, the Gen Z respondents named four topics that almost never appear in campaign ads or stump speeches. Preventing school shootings was first, followed by protecting access to clean water and fresh air, reducing gun violence and mass shootings, and guaranteeing quality education for every child.