Gen Z’s Trust Is Collapsing

Students walking on campus with books and backpacks — Photo: Roman Samborskyi / Shutterstock

Only 13% of Generation Z say “most people can be trusted,” a striking low that signals a wider trust drain across American life.

Story Highlights

A new analysis finds just 13% of Gen Z express broad trust in other people.
About three in four Gen Z respondents chose the most cautious trust response.
Other research shows Gen Z also reports low trust in major institutions.
Earlier national surveys found younger adults were far less trusting than older groups.

What the New Finding Says About Peer-to-Peer Trust

Political scientist Ryan Burge reported that Generation Z has the lowest level of interpersonal trust seen in polling, with only 13% saying “most people can be trusted”. He also noted that 74% picked the most cautious option, signaling a large trust gap for the youngest adults. This measure focuses on everyday trust in people, not only leaders or agencies. That difference matters because it points to strain in basic social ties, not only politics or media.

While Burge’s summary drives the headline, the broad picture aligns with multiple studies. The 2019 Pew Research Center survey found six in ten U.S. adults under 30 said most people cannot be trusted, a far higher share than older adults. That earlier result set a baseline. The new 13% figure suggests the trust floor for today’s young adults may be even lower. Together, these snapshots show a persistent gap between younger and older Americans.

Institutional Trust Is Also Weak for Gen Z

Separate polling from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation in 2023 found Generation Z reported very low confidence in major institutions. One in six or fewer had high trust in Congress, the news, the presidency, or large technology firms. This does not measure personal trust between people, but it adds context. Young Americans feel let down by leaders and systems. When institutions look distant or self-serving, people often pull back from wider social trust, too.

International and cross-market research points in the same direction. The 2024 Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Index placed Gen Z below older cohorts on a key trustworthiness measure, again showing a relative trust deficit for the youngest adults. Canada’s Elections Canada youth report likewise described “relatively low” generalized trust among Gen Z respondents, using a comparable scale. These reports use different questions and groups, but the pattern repeats. Younger people report less trust than their elders.

Why Low Trust Matters for Work, Safety, and Democracy

Low interpersonal trust can raise costs in daily life. People sign more forms, take fewer risks, and avoid new ties. Employers see less teamwork. Neighborhoods become less safe when residents stop sharing tips or helping. Democracies also weaken when citizens assume bad faith from others. When a rising generation trusts less, society loses social “glue.” Shared problems like crime, addiction, and high living costs feel harder to solve when people do not believe others will do their part.

Americans across the political spectrum see echoes of their own concerns here. Conservatives blame broken schools, crime, illegal immigration, and rising prices for fraying trust. Liberals point to inequality, discrimination, and weak safety nets. Many on both sides now agree on one thing: national leaders and agencies seem to look out for themselves first. The sense that elites rig the game feeds a loop. People retreat into small circles. Broad trust falls. Public systems then struggle even more.

What We Know—and the Limits

These surveys do not settle why trust fell most for Gen Z. Researchers note several possible drivers. Social media can inflame conflict and spread scams. Pandemic years cut face-to-face time. Housing and debt pressures add stress. The 2026 World Happiness Report chapter highlights that declines in interpersonal trust are steepest for Gen Z and Millennial women, pointing to real strain among young people today. Still, the data here measure outcomes, not firm causes. Future studies should track this over time.

How Leaders Could Rebuild Trust

Clear steps could help. Policymakers can cut red tape people hate, deliver visible local fixes, and publish simple scorecards. Schools and civic groups can expand service projects that mix people across lines of class and race. Police and city agencies can show work on crime and addiction with weekly, transparent data. Employers can post pay ranges and raise standards for customer care. Small, proven wins tell citizens that promises match results, which is how trust earns its way back.