Study: ‘Gen Z’ not interested in political, civic affairs

MANILA, Philippines — Young voters play an important role in the 2019 midterm elections but they are not inclined to participate in political and and civic affairs, according to a recent study by the Far Eastern University (FEU) in Makati.

JC Punongbayan of the FEU Public Policy Center said a majority of students or 86 percent of the so-called “Gen Z” (aged between 17 to 24) never take a stand as far as their political views and opinions are concerned. 

Punongbayan said 71 percent of the students never worked on local and national campaign, 24 percent never publicly took a stand and another 17 percent never discussed politics at all. 

“It seems that many Gen Z students are largely politically apathetic. Although they placed great value in critical thinking, they hardly demonstrate for a cause. They never discussed politics or communicate their ideas or opinions,” he said. 

On issues between the Philippines and China regarding the sea dispute, Punongbayan said 10 percent strongly agreed that the Philippine government can give up its claim over the West Philippine Sea while 19 percent strongly disagreed. 

Punongbayan said FEU initiated the study titled “Does Gen Z care?” to determine the students’ motivation and their views on current social and political issues in the country.

The respondents comprised 27,741 students in 2014 and 53,489 in 2015 through “randomized blocked sampling” from 18 universities and colleges in Metro Manila, eight in Luzon, two in Visayas and seven in Mindanao. 

Punongbayan said the study showed that 81 percent of the students think of the importance of getting a better job after graduation, entering graduate school and raising a family later on instead of discussing politics. 

He added the respondents were undecided when it comes to the most controversial issues of the day while they rely a lot on social media and internet as a source of news. 

Punongbayan said educators should encourage the younger generation to join political affairs and have a greater sense of civic consciousness.