The Global Generation (Oct 2010)
It’s often said that young people show a lack of interest in politics and the wider world, but this report provides much evidence to challenge that assertion. For the first time, we have commissioned research which focuses exclusively on one section of the population: 14-20 year olds. Our aim was to find out how young people become engaged with what’s happening in the world and to understand the role that the media plays in that process of engagement.
In chapter 1, we hear from broadcasters and campaigners. Television remains the key way of reaching young people but there are surprisingly few programmes on the wider world which target young audiences. BBC3’s Blood, Sweat and T-shirts strand is a notable example. It’s unfortunate that mainstream broadcasters aren’t following BBC3’s lead.
Chapter 2 is based on interviews with young activists, friendship groups and focus groups drawn from the young general public. This research demonstrates that although many young people are well informed about the developing world, there is a strong sense of disengagement. Schools work hard to inform and engage, but they compete with an overwhelmingly negative imagery that dominates media portrayals of the developing world.
For chapter 3, we commissioned YouGov to survey 1,500 young people. The findings reveal that most young people are concerned about global poverty and the lives of people in developing countries. More than half say they would like to do something but a number of obstacles are discouraging them. Many are ignorant about what they could do or feel that nothing they do will make a difference. If some of the barriers to taking action can be addressed, it’s clear that this global generation has the potential to become far more active.
