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The Future of Happiness
What makes 12–24 year olds happy? That was the topic of a study that MTV commissioned Social
Technologies to conduct earlier this year. The findings, which hit the newswires on August 20, 2007, surprised many.
“We knew friends and technology would be important to this demographic, but going in we also had the preconceived notion that 12 to 24 year olds were slightly indifferent, self-serving, and perhaps even a bit apathetic,” explains Andy Hines, Social Technologies’ director of custom projects, who led the study. “The biggest thing we learned was never to judge a book by its cover.”
Key findings from the happiness study included:
- BFF. Friends are and will continue to be the most important relationships contributing to youth happiness. 80% of the youth polled said that having lots of close friends is very or somewhat important; 23% said that when they go out with friends, they stop feeling unhappy.
- No Body’s Perfect. Body image and traditional routes to good health will be important aspects of happiness for many youth. “At my school, skinny is what everyone’s trying to be,” said Vanessa A., 13, of Philadelphia. “People make fun of fat [but] also of the skin-and-bones look.”
- My Life, My Time, My Way. Youth will take control of their own happiness. 91% said they have goals for the future (81% have career/work goals, 64% education, 62% family, 63% money, 48% travel, 17% sports, while 12% hope for fame).
- Virtual Community. Technology will be important for staying in touch as well as for the pleasure of the moment. 37% of the youths polled said they play videogames to stop unhappiness. 61% said technology helps them make new friends. In the 24 hours before the survey, half of the respondents said, they sent a text message; 71% said they received one.
So what does make American youth happy?
The bottom line is that today’s 12–24 year olds define happiness differently than previous generations did, the Social Technologies team determined.
“The characteristic that will most shape their current and future pursuit of happiness may be a deep-seated pragmatism,” explains project manager Traci Stafford Croft, who traveled to three cities (Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Atlanta) with MTV’s staff to interview about five dozen 12–24 year olds. In the study’s next phase, the Associated Press surveyed another 1,200 youths to further flesh out the findings.
In the end, the research showed that it is a popular misconception that today’s youths are self-absorbed or indifferent to social issues. Instead, any apparent indifference “might reflect the fact that they have a good grasp on reality and are simply being practical about what they get upset about or involved in,” Croft explains.
Hines adds: “No, this generation is not likely to march in DC to protest the war in Iraq. But they do care about the country, the environment, and the planet. They are just showing it in a way that is different from their parents and grandparents.”
As for today’s so-called helicopter parents, notorious for hovering protectively around their offspring in this generation, well, the respondents’ views of this parental behavior were the finding that most amazed the Social Technologies team.
“We thought the kids would really resent having their parents come in and make a fuss at school or on the playing field, but the youths didn’t feel as if that was an obstacle to their happiness,” Croft concludes. “Sure, it was a little embarrassing for them, but ultimately they said they appreciated that their parents are looking out for them. And if you think about it, that’s just good common sense.”
For more information
To schedule an interview with the Social Technologies' team send an email to
hope.gibbs@socialtechnologies.com
MTV releases landmark study
To announce the Happiness study, MTV issued a press release on Aug. 20 that outlined the research. Visit
http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/research
The Associated Press on “The Future of Happiness”
In addition to the S)T research team, the Associated Press also participated in the project. AP conducted a survey of 1,280 youths, which fed the study’s conclusions, and later rolled out a series of a five articles on the topic. These included:
- Family ties key to youth happiness (August 20) — NEW YORK — So you're between the ages of 13 and 24. What makes you happy? A worried, weary parent might imagine the answer to sound something like this: Sex, drugs, a little rock 'n' roll. Maybe some cash or at least the car keys. Turns out the real answer are quite different.
Read the entire article
- Young white Americans happier than their minority counterparts (August 21) — From their relationships to their jobs to their money -- even from the time they first roll out of bed -- young white Americans are happier with life than their minority counterparts. According to an
extensive survey of 1,280 people ages 13-24 by The Associated Press and MTV, 72 percent of whites say they are happy with life in general, compared with 51 percent of Hispanics and 56 percent of blacks.
Read the entire article
- Young people don't rely on money for happiness, but it helps (August 22) — Today's young people have a complicated relationship with money, dismissing it as a paramount source of happiness yet conceding its power over them. Money is nowhere near the top of the list when they are asked what makes them happiest. Friends and family are their chief pleasures, followed by God, pets and pastimes like listening to music. But money can certainly help, according to an extensive poll by The Associated Press and MTV. And a lack of it — and the pressures it can cause — can sure make their lives unhappy.
Read the entire article
- Stress divides young Americans along gender lines (August 23) — Stressed out by your high-pressured job? Don't assume your kid is any less stressed out by school. Especially if she's a she. Young people experience stress at a high rate, and females more than males, an extensive Associated Press/MTV survey shows. A similar divide exists in terms of fears and
safety: Girls and young women are less likely to feel safe in their neighborhoods, in schools, or from terror attacks.
Read the entire article
- Religion a vital part of young Americans' lives, and leads to more happiness (August 24) — Among America's young people, godliness contributes to happiness. An extensive survey by The Associated Press and MTV found that people aged 13 to 24 who describe themselves as very spiritual or religious tend to be happier than those who don't. When it comes to spirituality, American young people also are remarkably tolerant — nearly 7 in 10 say that while they follow their own religious or spiritual beliefs, others might be true as well.
Read the entire article
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