Young people want to act. Here’s what’s stopping them.
Gen Zers care about their communities, but their motivations to get involved are often misunderstood. A new national survey of 1,000 young people aged 14–22, conducted by YPulse, reveals what it takes to engage young people and get them to participate in civic life. Part of C&S’s ongoing research, it builds on our insights from The Civic Outlook of Young Adults in America.
See how 500 young people are solving complex problems in their community right now.
Involvement
90% of young people say they care about their communities.
Motivators
49% of young people are motivated by their friends getting involved.
Barriers
37% don’t know how to start, and 33% doubt they can make a difference.
C&S activates young people to create bold, fresh solutions to civic problems. The data shows what’s holding them back.
Our findings challenge the myth that Gen Z is checked out. Nine in ten young people care deeply about their communities, but many don’t know where to start or if their efforts will make a difference. They told us what actually moves them: working alongside friends, seeing real results, and having clear, accessible ways to get involved.
Young people want to be heard, trusted, and shown that participation actually matters.
This survey gives leaders, educators, and funders a thoughtful way to meet young people where they are and how to help them turn their interest into impact.
Key Findings
Young people care about their community.
Almost all young people feel responsible for their communities. Very few (10%) say they don’t get involved because they don’t care.
Their “why” changes with age.
Teens are motivated by opportunities to be with friends (55%) and getting into a good school or scholarship (42%).
Young adults are more motivated by injustice, economic struggles, or leaders abusing power.
Most engagement happens offline.
The top ways to get involved are voting in elections (73%) and talking about issues in person (77%). Young people are less likely to comment or debate online (46%).
Uncertainty holds them back.
The biggest barriers are not knowing where to start (37%) and not believing they can make a difference (33%).
Impact is everything.
Young people will get involved if they can see how their efforts make an impact (42%) and have the tools to create solutions themselves (32%).
“
Young people really want to do this. But they know they need the skills and mentoring to be able to do it.
Audra Watson Chief of Youth Civic Programs
Key Opportunities
Give them a starting point.
About 90% of young people say they care about their communities and feel responsible to get involved. But knowledge and confidence hold them back—37% don’t know how to start, and 33% doubt they can make a difference.
Lower the barrier to entry. Make it easy (and fun) for young people to get involved.
Create space for real talk – in person.
77% of young people (14–22) say they’re more likely to get involved through face-to-face conversations with friends, family, and peers. That’s way higher than the 60% who would just like or share online.
Young people want to have difficult conversations. Let them do it in class, at work, and at home.
Connect civic action to real life and make it social.
49% of young people are motivated by social connection and 46% by social unfairness.
Teens (14-18) are motivated by their friends getting involved (55%) and getting into a good school or getting a scholarship (42%). Young adults (19-22) respond to crisis—40% would act if the economy hurt jobs and 38% if a leader abused power.
Fund and design peer-led, youth-driven projects on issues that matter to Gen Z.
Lean in.
Young people will get involved if they have the tools to create solutions themselves (32%).
Co-create with young people. Build intergenerational spaces where everyone learns from each other. Talk to young people, not about them.
Show them the impact.
42% of young people (14–22) say they’ll get involved if they can see how their efforts make a difference.
Lead with change and let young people tell their own stories.
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