- If some voices were raised to regret that with confinement we have sacrificed the economic future of youth to save the health of the elderly, the young refute any idea of sacrifice in the name of solidarity, according to the latest barometer “# MeYoung, Unconfined and tomorrow? » 20 Minutes - OpinionWay.
- They are nevertheless aware that it is their generation that will pay the heaviest price for the crisis, without recognizing themselves in the term of “Covid generation”.
- Because, they believe, they inherit a system that was already out of breath and the crisis would have happened no matter what.
Was it necessary to provoke a serious economic crisis by confining the population? Should we sacrifice the future of youth, who will have to pay the cost of this crisis, to preserve the health of their elders? If this question, notably asked by the philosopher André Comte-Sponville or the journalist and writer François de Closets, strikes you, it also strikes the first concerned. 70% of 18-30 year olds indeed think that it is shocking to say that we sacrificed their generation to save the oldest, according to our latest barometer “#MeYoung, Deconfined and tomorrow? » 20 Minutes -OpinionWay *.
Confinement is thus considered a fair measure for 85% of young people, while only 22% consider it to be disproportionate. "It was more a matter of solidarity than sacrifice," considers Théo, member of the MoiJeune ** community. "A human life is a human life," says Gaëlle. Thus, 64% of 18-30 year olds favor the health of all, against 34% who promote individual freedoms. "Will the older ones be able to return the favor to us in the difficult period ahead? To see, ”wonders Elise.
Their generation will pay
Because if young people refute any idea of sacrifice, they are nevertheless aware of the difficulties that await them. According to our study, 60% of 18-30 year olds think they will have a less easy life than their parents. A figure that rises to 70% for the 28-30 age group. And 56% of the young people questioned believe that it is their generation that will pay the highest price for the crisis. “I lost my internship, so I find myself with no income and no professional experience. At 26, I live with my parents and I start to be anxious to find a job, "says Cyril.
This age group, which will have to bear the economic cost of the health crisis, has already been called the “Covid generation” by some commentators. A term in which 81% of the young people questioned do not recognize themselves, however. This is because they do not inherit only the consequences of the coronavirus. "The Covid is not responsible for the crisis we are going through, it is the current system that we must blame," explains Marine. It is based on overconsumption at all costs, and the slightest grain of sand in the machine means that the younger generations have to be sacrificed. "
"Solving problems that we did not cause"
Lucid about their future, 36% of 18-30 year olds prefer to use the term "galley" to describe their generation and 35% actually describe it as "sacrificed". On the other hand, 29% prefer to present themselves as the “generation of solutions”. "We are starting our adult life at a time when we will have to start by solving environmental, health, economic, societal problems that we have not caused," says Caroline. Rethinking education, life goals, fundamentals, that would be beneficial. We see today that consumption does not make people happy, does not make us feel secure. Why not put human well-being as a new goal? "Let's favor solidarity," adds Mélissa. Because confinement made us realize that, in any society, individualism cannot work. "
Our MoiJeune file
While 43% of young people do not (for the moment?) Prefer to think about the consequences of the crisis and enjoy life and their newfound freedom, they are still 37% who say they want to get involved (even more) to contribute positively to the next world. The emergency? Mitigating the effects of the economic crisis is only a priority for 28% of them, while 72% of young people believe that the main fight for the next two years remains the environment.
* Barometer “#MeYoung, Deconfinite and tomorrow? », 20 Minutes - OpinionWay, produced online from June 5 to 8, 2020 with a representative sample of 774 young people aged 18 to 30, using the quota method.
** If you are between 18 and 30 years old, you can participate in the “#MoiJeune” project, a series of surveys launched by 20 Minutes and built with and for young people. All the information to register online here
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- Confinement
- Crisis
- Coronavirus
- Youth
- Society
- MeYoung