Preferred Preferences among Modern Adolescents - Insights into the Desires of Today's Youth
By Aljoscha PrangeMore Info*FacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailPrint*Copy Link
Young people are often pigeonholed as lazy, self-absorbed, and uninterested. But a new survey, spearheaded by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Institute for Social Work e.V. (ISA), tells a different story. Over a thousand teenagers aged 10-15 from across the nation revealed their thoughts on what makes a fulfilling life and how satisfied they are with their current circumstances. Here's a surprising find: 49.3 percent were "fairly content," with almost another 46 percent reporting high levels of satisfaction. Only 5 percent felt unsatisfied.
Are teens really lazy? "All Gen Z stereotypes can be debunked."
When asked about the top priorities for a satisfying life, close to a third (32 percent) prioritized social interactions with peers. Family relationships followed closely, with nearly 20 percent ranking them highest.
Interestingly, these social priorities line up with teenagers' financial priorities: for nine out of ten respondents, money was essential for fun shared experiences with friends. "Trendy stuff" like clothing, makeup, and tech were secondary concerns, cited by only 67 percent. Hobbies ranked higher, with 61 percent, followed by internet and phone access, at 55 percent.
However, only about 20 percent of parents contribute to covering their child's social activity costs. This leaves most young people to cover expenses themselves, which can lead to isolation when finances are limited.
Anxious about money
It's no shocker that a sizable percentage (46.4 percent) of teenagers "often" or "sometimes" worry about the level of their family's finances. Adding to their concerns, 49 percent admitted they can't afford things their friends can, due to financial constraints.
Body, Mind, and Soul: Finances' Emotional Impact
Money issues affect more than just the material well-being of young people. The study observes that rising costs for rent and food put a strain on family budgets, negatively impacting mood and stress levels. Teenagers pick up on these financial pressures, telling researcher Lukas Thiehoff from the JugendExpert:innenTeam (JEx-Team) of the Bertelsmann Foundation, "Financial limitations are noticed by teenagers."
Thiehoff cautions, "School, grades, homework, exams—these all create immense pressure and stress. Add global conflicts, climate change, and the rise of right-wing populism, and young people have even more to worry about." He suggests young people shouldn't have to navigate such stresses, stating, "They deserve to live freer lives, less burdened by fears."
Struggling with school and grades
According to the study, school quality and grading are areas of concern for young people. About 61 percent of respondents rated their school as "good" or "very good." However, when it comes to grading, close to half (52.3 percent) believe it is either unnecessary or even detrimental to their learning process. Only about 13 percent felt they needed grades to learn.
Homework fared even worse: 63.7 percent of students said they needed it "little" or "not at all" for effective learning. Instead, they view homework as a burden that could widen already existing learning disparities among peers. They favor alternatives like more opportunities to ask questions, focused study areas, engaging tasks, and content that relates to real-world scenarios.
Not lazy at all
More involvement is what Romance Bassingha from the JEx-team wishes for, especially on a political level. "Government lobbying influences decisions that affect our lives. But there's no lobby for students and young people," she claims. Bassingha advocates for a younger parliament and increased youth participation.
Bassingha's sentiment aligns with the findings of the study, which reveals young people feel they are not involved in decisions that significantly impact their lives. "We just want to live in peace and have a say in our futures. We're old enough to make decisions, and some of us can even vote. We have answers, but we aren't asked," stated a disappointed young person interviewed by ntv.de.
This reality is far from the "lazy" stereotypes commonly associated with Gen Z. Thiehoff identifies a double standard, "Young people are expected to be enthusiastic about the job market, but they're not offered realistic prospects. It's about personal fulfillment, not just a 40-60 hour workweek and burning out." Bassingha echoes this sentiment, "There's much more to Gen Z than being labeled lazy."
Source: ntv.de
- Youth
- Children
- Bertelsmann Foundation
- Federal Government
- Studies
- School
- Family
- Enrichment Data: The search results do not specifically detail the primary concerns and desires of young people according to a Bertelsmann Stiftung study. However, they mention a study titled "Loneliness of Young People Compared Across Europe in 2024," which suggests that loneliness is a significant concern for young people in Europe[3]. For more detailed insights into young people's concerns and desires, directly consulting the specific study or contacting the Bertelsmann Stiftung would be necessary. In general, the foundation's focus includes promoting social participation, education, and digitalization, which could indirectly relate to young people's interests and challenges[1][2].
Here is a summary of broader concerns and goals related to young people and the Bertelsmann Stiftung's focus:
- Social Participation: The foundation aims to enable social participation for everyone, including young people, across various sectors like education, politics, and culture[2].
- Education and Innovation: Promoting innovation and education are key areas of focus, which could address young people's aspirations and challenges[2][3].
- Loneliness and Social Cohesion: The study on loneliness suggests that young people struggle with issues related to isolation and social disconnection, which could be significant areas of concern[3].
- The survey revealed that a significant number of teenagers are content or highly satisfied with their lives, challenging the stereotype of young people as uninterested or self-absorbed.
- When asked about priorities for a fulfilling life, social interactions and family relationships ranked high, with 32% and 19%, respectively. Interestingly, finances were crucial for shared experiences with friends, with 90% of respondents considering money essential for related activities.
- Concerning personal-finance issues, almost half of teenagers expressed worry about their family's financial situation, and 49% felt that financial constraints prevented them from affording things their friends could. These concerns significantly impact their lifestyle, often leading to isolation.
- The study also noted the emotional impact of financial concerns on young people's well-being, with rising costs for rent and food affecting mood and stress levels. Additionally, politics and general-news topics were indicated as sources of concern for young people.
