Young Americans are under profound strain, with “deep economic insecurity, eroding trust in democratic institutions, and growing social fragmentation” shaping how they see their lives and futures, a new poll shows.
Why It Matters
The poll from the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School provides insight into the concerns of young Americans at a time of political polarization and amid heightened questioning of the role played by traditional systems and institutions, including democracy and the capitalist economy.
What To Know
The poll of 2,040 18- to 29-year-olds conducted on November 3-7 found that only 13 percent believe that the U.S. is generally headed in the right direction. “Financial fears, political polarization, and concerns over an uncertain future have shattered young Americans’ trust in the world around them,” Jordan Schwartz, student chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Project, said.
Forty-three percent of the younger set say they are struggling or getting by with limited financial security and only 30 percent believe they will be better off financially than their parents.
Young Americans rate President Donald Trump and both major political parties poorly, offering overwhelmingly negative descriptions of Democrats and Republicans alike, the poll found.
Trump has a 29 percent overall approval rating, with just 26 percent on the economy, 25 percent on health care, 32 percent on immigration and 35 percent on illegal immigration.
Congressional Democrats fare no better, with a 27 percent approval rating, while congressional Republicans are at 26 percent. “A generation facing economic and technological uncertainty does not see national leaders as responsive or capable. These numbers reflect a deeper lack of trust in institutions during a moment of widespread anxiety about affordability, opportunity, and the future of work,” the Institute of Politics said in its report on the poll.
The poll also found faith in capitalism is eroding among young people in the U.S., with 39 percent approval, down from 45 percent in 2020, while they increasingly view the democratic system as struggling.
Sixty-four percent of those polled describe the U.S. as a democracy either in trouble (45 percent) or one that has already failed (19 percent), while only 32 percent describe it in positive terms: 6 percent as healthy and 26 percent as somewhat functioning.
The poll also found that trust between young Americans is collapsing. Only 35 percent of respondents believe others with opposing political views want what’s best for the country and 47 percent avoid political conversations because they fret over the potential reaction of others.
Despite this skepticism, Democrats hold a substantial advantage for the midterm elections in 2026, the institute said. Among registered voters, 46 percent prefer Democratic control of Congress, compared with 29 percent who want the GOP to uphold its majorities. Twenty-four percent said they were unsure.
What People Are Saying
Schwartz added: “Now is not the time to mince words: Gen Z is headed down a path that could threaten the future stability of American democracy and society. This is a five-alarm fire, and we need to act now if we hope to restore young people’s faith in politics, America, and each other.”
John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Institute of Politics: “Young Americans are sending a clear message: the systems and institutions meant to support them no longer feel stable, fair, or responsive to this generation.
“Their trust in democracy, the economy, and even each other is fraying – not because they are disengaged, but because they feel unheard and unprotected in a moment of profound uncertainty. Listening to them, fully and without precondition, is essential if we hope to rebuild that trust – one of the defining challenges of our time.”
