A significant number of Gen Z individuals express low confidence in Congress and the presidency, according to recently conducted research.
Almost six out of ten Generation Z individuals, who are categorized as individuals under 28 as per the survey, exhibit a minimal level of trust towards Congress. The same sentiment is shared towards the presidency and the Supreme Court, with 51% and 44% expressing little trust respectively. A meager 20% exhibit a substantial level of trust in the Supreme Court, while even fewer exhibit a high level of trust in Congress or the presidency.
A significant portion of Gen Z adults (more than a third) express a minimal level of trust in large technology companies (49%), the news (43%), the criminal justice system (41%), and the police (37%). The military and medical system garner a bit more trust, with 30% and 26% expressing minimal trust respectively. Only 7% exhibit a minimal level of trust in science as a whole.
These findings echo the results of a Harvard Institute of Politics survey released earlier this year, which highlighted a decline in trust among young adults towards various institutions.
Trust in the country's political system is not exclusive to the youth. Gallup polling from earlier this year posed a related question about confidence in institutions. Similar percentages of adults of all ages expressed skepticism towards the three branches of government: 57%, 46%, and 35% had minimal confidence in Congress, the presidency, and the Supreme Court respectively. However, young adults were more likely to express minimal confidence in the police, the military, and large technology companies compared to the general public.
Gen Z members generally have confidence in their teachers. According to the Gallup-Walton Family Foundation survey, almost six out of ten current middle school, high school, and college students trust their teachers and other school adults highly.
The Gallup-Walton Family Foundation poll surveyed 4,157 individuals aged 12 to 27 in the US between April 26 and May 9, utilizing a nationally representative online panel. The results have a margin of error of ±2.1 percentage points.
Despite the low trust levels towards political institutions, Gen Z members demonstrate a higher level of trust towards their teachers, with nearly six out of ten expressing high confidence. On the contrary, politics as a whole continues to struggle with trust issues, with minimal trust levels persisting across Congress, the presidency, and the Supreme Court.
