Study Reveals Gen Z as Most Suspicious Generation in Modern American History
A recent study, compiled using data from the General Social Survey between 2021 and 2024, indicates that Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) exhibits the lowest level of interpersonal trust among all generations. Only 13% of Gen Z teens and young adults believe that most people can be trusted. This represents a significant decline in trust, with a notable drop observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, Millennials showed slightly more trust, with approximately 24% believing most people are trustworthy. The Silent Generation, by comparison, was the most trusting, with 41% of those surveyed expressing trust in others. The study, led by political scientist Ryan Burge at Washington University, also found a correlation between higher education levels and increased trust, with college graduates more likely to trust others than those with a high school diploma or less. 
