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Young people ‘inspired’ by Trump and Musk, UCLA survey finds

A large number of young people say they are “inspired” by the likes of Elon Musk and Donald Trump and want to be like them, a survey from UCLA found.

The survey was conducted by the UCLA Center for Scholars & Storytellers, which sought to learn more about how young people viewed the “American dream,” and how attainable they believe their financial goals are.

While more than half of the hundreds of respondents said the American dream was out of reach, when asked whose lifestyle they’d most want to emulate and who they’d most want to be like, the top answers were tech billionaire Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. Other common answers were Kim Kardashian, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and YouTube personality Mr. Beast.

The UCLA survey contacted 1,500 “young people” between the ages of 14-27 that were closely aligned with US Census data in terms of race and gender.

Survey respondents said they desired the promise of American prosperity, but said they believed it was unlikely they could ever grab hold of it.

Dana White, President-elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Kid Rock attend UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Dana White, President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Kid Rock attend UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Researchers found that 86% of young people desire the American dream, but 60% believed it was out of reach due to various economic issues. Those who came from lower socioeconomic backgrounds had even less confidence in the prospect of achieving their financial dreams.

Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said they believed their generation was less likely to have the same level of success as those that came before them.

“Young people today still really want financial security and independence, but many feel like the cards are stacked against them and the system is rigged,” UCLA adjunct professor Yalda Uhls said.

What’s driving this perception? Respondents said social media.

“Young people reported that they get most of their information about the American Dream from social media, and 79% of young people said they believe social media challenges traditional concepts around the American Dream more effectively than TV or movies,” researchers wrote.

The unattainability of financial prosperity has led younger generations to redefine the American dream, UCLA said.

(File: Getty)

Instead of living like a tech magnate or real estate mogul, respondents rank good mental and physical health above all, followed close behind by simple financial stability.

Traditional accomplishments previously associated with the American dream like home ownership, marriage and parenthood, all ranked lower on the list.

“For many people in my generation, homeownership feels completely out of the realm of possibility, and the idea of having kids when we can’t afford to take care of ourselves seems ridiculous, if not immoral,” said Atlas Burrus, a co-author of the study who falls within the age range of those surveyed. “Most of us are just trying to survive, go to school and go to work while the world is literally burning.”

To read the full survey results, including how young people think traditional media should portray the American dream in a modern context, click here.

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