Kids care most about education, climate change, new Week Junior survey finds
Children born since 2010 — Generation Alpha — care the most about access to quality education, protecting the environment, and ending hunger, and want leaders to take action now, the new Junior Voices survey from The Week Junior and YouGov found.
The top issue for Generation Alpha is education, with 34 percent saying it's important to them that every kid has the opportunity to get a good education and go to college if they'd like to attend. The environment is a close second, with 29 percent saying we must protect wildlife, ensure there is clean water and air, and reduce climate change, followed by hunger, with 28 percent saying all Americans must have enough food to eat. Equality — taking action to make sure people of all races, genders, and backgrounds are treated fairly — and ensuring everyone can get and afford good health care are also top concerns.
A quarter of the respondents said they feel hopeful about the future, and 24 percent feel inspired to do something to make a difference. Andrea Barbalich, editor-in-chief of The Week Junior, said this year's Junior Voices survey "once again showed that kids not only have strong points of view on the issues that matter to them, but are passionate about using their voices for change."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
YouGov surveyed 733 children between the ages of 8 and 14, after contacting their parents online. The surveys were conducted Sept. 23 through Oct. 11. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all U.S. children ages 8 to 14.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Mount Rainier is on its way downUnder the radar Its peak elevation is approximately 20 feet lower than it once was
-
Death toll from Southeast Asia storms tops 1,000speed read Catastrophic floods and landslides have struck Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia
-
Can for-profit geoengineering put a pause on climate change?In the Spotlight Stardust Solutions wants to dim the sun. Scientists are worried.
-
How will climate change affect the UK?The Explainer Met Office projections show the UK getting substantially warmer and wetter – with more extreme weather events
-
Can the UK do more on climate change?Today's Big Question Labour has shown leadership in the face of fraying international consensus, but must show the public their green mission is ‘a net benefit, not a net cost’
-
Did Cop30 fulfil its promise to Indigenous Brazilians?Today’s Big Question Brazilian president approves 10 new protected territories, following ‘unprecedented’ Indigenous presence at conference, both as delegates and protesters
-
Can the world adapt to climate change?Today's Big Question As the world gets hotter, COP30 leaders consider resilience efforts
-
Taps could run dry in drought-stricken TehranUnder the Radar President warns that unless rationing eases water crisis, citizens may have to evacuate the capital


