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Youth Trend Study 2026

  • May 4
  • 3 min read


The loneliest youth we've ever had.


This unique youth trend study sheds light on the needs, concerns, fears and future prospects of Generation Z and Generation Alpha.

The war in Iran, the war in Ukraine, climate change... – while the globe is plagued by countless crises and many media outlets now speak of 'polycrises', artificial intelligence (AI) and social media is taking hold in children's bedrooms across the country: More and more stressors are bombarding young people of Generation Z (born 1995-2009) and Generation Alpha (born 2010-2024), eroding their daily lives at home and at school. What effect does this constant state of crisis have on young people? What are they worried about, and what gives them hope despite everything?


Together with the Chair of School Pedagogy at the University of Augsburg, the Institute for Generation Research surveyed young people about their worries, fears, and hopes between January and February 2026. To better contextualize this data, parents and teachers were also surveyed, as well as control groups. In total, 4,865 people in Germany were interviewed using this approach.





What makes the 2026 Youth Trend Study unique


Society

The study took society as a whole into account: by conducting a representative survey of the entire population, pupils, teenagers and young adults can be compared with other age groups, as well as with parents and teachers (excluding period effects).


Holistic

Holistic analysis of the present: The mixed-methods design allowed not only numbers (from a quantitative online survey) but also the real-life stories of young people (from qualitative interview research) to be collected and categorized.


Comparison

Comparison with the past: Much of the survey utilises data and survey instruments that have already been validated. This made it possible to compare today’s young people with young people from the past. In other words, a comparison of today’s 18-year-olds, for example, with 18-year-olds from 10, 20 or 30 years ago, which allowed for the exclusion of age-related effects and a direct comparison with their parents’ generation.


Future

Calculating the future: Based on the analysis of the present and the past, future scenarios and courses of action can be determined (forecasting of trend developments).


Key topics of the Youth Trend Study 2026


Increase in loneliness and isolation

Loneliness among young people is on the rise. Terms like "social battery" and "me-time" are ubiquitous, reflecting the prevalence of social overload. Simultaneously, withdrawal, isolation, and feelings of loneliness are increasing, BUT only among Generation Z. Furthermore, members of Generation Z rate their mental health the lowest compared to other generations. This study investigated why Generation Z is particularly affected by this trend.


The children's AI trend

For many young people, everyday life without AI is unimaginable. But how prepared do they feel for future AI applications, and who is preparing them, and how? To draw conclusions about this, the 2026 Youth Trend Study examined AI applications in the school context. The study provided ample opportunity for students and teachers to share their perspectives. The study's findings offer unique insights into where society needs to take action to ensure responsible AI development for students, young people, and society as a whole.


Gender differences & politics

Never before have teenagers and young adults been as divided as they are today. A large proportion of young men desire a return to patriarchal structures, openly promote misogynistic messages, and vote for the AfD (Alternative for Germany). Meanwhile, young women feel the exact opposite: that women's rights and emancipation movements are declining. Structural disadvantages, even femicide, are issues many women deal with daily, along with a growing fear of men in general. They increasingly see their concerns and anxieties reflected in the Left Party. They also view other left-wing parties, such as the Greens and the SPD (Social Democratic Party), as part of the problem.


Fear & Society

Anxiety among young people is on the rise. However, the 2026 Youth Trend Study has shown that it's not the so-called 'polycrises' that are causing this alarming increase in anxiety. Club and discotheque owners have long observed one consequence of this: young people are no longer going out to parties and are instead retreating into their shells.


You can order the Youth Trend Study 2026 via the following link:



Television reports and articles about the Youth Trend Study 2026



 
 
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