Youth Confidence Plummets: Social Contract Broken?

A recent study by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) indicates a significant decline in confidence and wellbeing among 11- to 24-year-olds in England. This demographic, encompassing Gen Z and older Gen Alpha members, reports increased feelings of loneliness, a reduction in the number of friends, and lower satisfaction with existing relationships. Worryingly, one in twenty young people claim to have no friends at all.

The research highlights several critical issues contributing to this sentiment. Young individuals express concerns about their future prospects, with many associating social media use with problems in concentration and common leisure activities like 'doomscrolling.' The study also points to broader systemic issues, including escalating housing costs, a scarcity of entry-level employment opportunities, substantial student debt, and the lingering effects of austerity measures and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The IPPR concludes that the current social contract with young people is fundamentally broken and requires substantial reform. While acknowledging socioeconomic disparities, the report notes that the steepest declines in life satisfaction have occurred in deprived areas. The report emphasizes that homeownership before the mid-30s is increasingly becoming a privilege of inheritance, with social housing inaccessible to most and private rentals offering limited stability.

Addressing this multifaceted crisis necessitates a comprehensive approach. Potential solutions include boosting the supply of new homes, implementing job-market reforms that might include limitations on AI in recruitment, and fostering a stronger national emphasis on generational fairness. These measures aim to create a more supportive environment for individuals under 25, moving away from a neoliberal assault on collectivism towards a more supportive social fabric.