Generation Nexters

Highlights from a report by the Pew Center and People & the Press. It's fairly safe to assume the majority of respondents were white middle America, overall optimistic, ages 18-25.

Generation Next.

They are the "Look at Me" generation. Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and MyYearbook allow individuals to post a personal profile complete with photos and descriptions of interests and hobbies. A majority of Gen Nexters have used one of these social networking sites, and more than four-in-ten have created a personal profile.

About half of Gen Nexters say the growing number of immigrants to the U.S. strengthens the country ­ more than any generation. And they also lead the way in their support for gay marriage and acceptance of interracial dating.

Beyond these social issues, their views defy easy categorization. For example, Generation Next is less critical of government regulation of business but also less critical of business itself. And they are the most likely of any generation to support privatization of the Social Security system.

They maintain close contact with parents and family. Roughly eight-in-ten say they talked to their parents in the past day. Nearly three-in-four see their parents at least once a week, and half say they see their parents daily. One reason: money. About three-quarters of Gen Nexters say their parents have helped them financially in the past year.

They are somewhat more interested in keeping up with politics and national affairs than were young people a generation ago. Still, only a third say they follow what's going on in government and public affairs "most of the time."

In Pew surveys in 2006, nearly half of young people (48%) identified more with the Democratic Party, while just 35% affiliated more with the GOP. This makes Generation Next the least Republican generation. (Rut-ro, here comes Hillary and Johnny Reid)

Voter turnout among young people increased significantly between 2000 and 2004, interrupting a decades-long decline in turnout among the young. Nonetheless, most members of Generation Next feel removed from the political process.

They are significantly less cynical about government and political leaders than are other Americans or the previous generation of young people. A majority of Americans agree with the statement: "When something is run by the government, it is usually inefficient and wasteful," but most Generation Nexters reject this idea.

They are more comfortable with globalization and new ways of doing work. They are the most likely of any age group to say that automation, the outsourcing of jobs, and the growing number of immigrants have helped and not hurt American workers.

Asked about the life goals of those in their age group, most Gen Nexters say their generation's top goals are fortune and fame. Roughly eight-in-ten say people in their generation think getting rich is either the most important, or second most important, goal in their lives. About half say that becoming famous also is valued highly by fellow Gen Nexters.

------- In the .pdf the report also states that job/career is of concern to GenNext who feel their opportunities are less than previous generations. I guess their inability to connect big business, outsourcing and immigration to their own fate is a real brainteaser.

The report states respondents overwhelmingly claimed to hold "traditional family values" which conflicts somewhat with the liberalism of their views on homosexuality, sexual freedom, gay marriage, etc.

Sadly, GenNexters also report little concern (2%) regarding the War in Iraq. The old no-draft me no giveashit syndrome.

But whatever their social liberalism – GenNexters are well-groomed for the new world with benign views toward government and business, feeling removed from the political process, placing fame and fortune of utmost importance, as real world problems are not fun; which by the way when asked what word best describes their generation "fun" was one of the top descriptors.

Approximately 83-93 percent, or 8 to 9 out of 10, are satisfied with their parental relationships, housing situation, standard of living, and amount of leisure time at their disposal. Damn, sounds as though they still live at home with mom and dad.

Of course, youth should be "fun" and each generation of Americans seem to have more "fun." Apparently GenNexters are quite content with the world as is.

By the time GenNext realizes fortune and fame dropped to the bottom of their "to do" list - they will be disgruntled disoriented cogsters, living in a hut full of toys on a global service kibbutz with pisspot poor funds from the privatized Social Security accounts they begged for; their gray heads clamoring "look at me, look at me" on MyOldSpace.

(KAB generally does not think highly of public opinion polls, surveys, peew reports, etc. believing such services, more often than not, aid in manufacturing opinion rather than reflect it, but maybe that's wishful thinking on my part.)