2020 research
Letter from Derrick Feldmann
Lead Researcher, Cause and Social Influence
Change. It’s never had such opposing meanings for a young American as in 2020.
On the one hand, the daily lives of these young people (ages 18-30) changed drastically. They missed out on graduation ceremonies, face-to-face job interviews, the collegiality of working with others, attending friend and family gatherings. They struggled with the tangible and intangible effects of isolation, job loss and constant uncertainty.
Yet, they rose beyond these personal adversities to help others and try to change the things they felt were wrong.
Before we put 2020’s major moments behind us, it’s important to see what we can learn about how and why young Americans chose to act. Three major moments in quick succession – a pandemic, George Floyd’s death, the election – offer a singular chance to study how digital and non-digital activism reinforce each other and drive social movements.
We’re in a fascinating era of engagement. Especially in a pandemic, young Americans could choose to rely on technology to connect and make their voices heard. Instead, traditional offline ways to participate in social issues remain strong, used in conjunction with online activities but not replaced by them. Here’s the best example: Based on three years of research, we can confidently state that this age group sees voting as the best way to bring about social change.
What happens now? Interest and participation were gaining momentum heading into 2020. This year showed what young Americans believe they must do to accomplish change. The question now is whether moments in the coming year will warrant the same level of response.
