Ryan Burge

“Only 13% of Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) said that they could trust the majority of people”

“while almost three-quarters (74%) said “you can’t be too careful,” according to a study by political scientist Ryan Burge at Washington University.”

“In 2018, just over 20% of Gen Z believed most people could be trusted”

“but in 2025, that figure is in single digits.”

“Some two-thirds (67%) of Gen Z-ers with a 4-year degree or more felt that other people couldn’t be trusted”

“compared to a staggering 80% of those with a high school diploma or less.”

“where 48% of those with college degrees expressed mistrust of others”

“compared to 82% of those in their peer group who didn’t attend higher education.”