Young people are more focused on safety, kindness and self-acceptance than fame and popularity, according to new research from the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA. Published Jan. 14, the full report examines at how people aged 10 to 24 rank the importance of 14 priorities, ranging from “to look good” to “change the world.”
These findings suggest that despite the threat of climate change, geopolitical conflicts and economic strain that surround young people, they remain grounded; the low ranks of fame and popularity in favor of kindness suggest that they are prioritizing stability, connection and emotional well-being.
“In a world full of uncertainty, young people are telling us exactly what they need — and it’s not fame or fortune,” said Yalda T. Uhls, founder and CEO of CSS, adjunct professor in UCLA’s psychology department and senior author of the study, in a statement. “They want to feel safe, be kind, accept themselves and have fun. These aren’t just preferences — they’re survival strategies for a generation dealing with very real stress.”
Safety was a top-ranked value for the second year in a row, signaling the continued importance of security and stability amongst an ever-changing world. “To have a lot of fun” also ranked high overall, indicating that media content that encourages enjoyment remains an important tool to cope with stress. It was particularly valued by those between the ages of 10 and 13, teens 14 to 18 and males overall.
“Laughter, play and shared joy are a key part of how young people cope with stress and build meaningful friendships — which are both essential to their development,” said Matt Puretz, CSS senior researcher and a co-author of the study. “We see this reflected in the media content they seek out — they often look for fun content when they’re stressed.”
In addition to Uhls and Puretz, Alisha Hines, CSS’ VP of research and programs, was a co-author of the survey. The sample consisted of 1,500 U.S. adolescents with 100 respondents in each age cohort.
CSS is a youth-centered organization that strives to bridges the gap between psychology research and media creation.