Download 2022 Year In Review
2022 Year in review
Letter from Derrick Feldmann
Lead Researcher, Cause and Social Influence
Each year, social issue moments – short-term surges of individual actions inspired by cultural, political or social events – occur and change. In 2022, we saw moments that burst into the nation’s consciousness: the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, igniting intense actions on both sides of the issue and dominating media coverage. We also saw moments revive social issue attention: a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, renewing the gun safety and mental health debates. Confirmation hearings for the country’s first Black female Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, provided focus for racial discrimination actions.1,2 Record-breaking heat and flooding around the world increased dialogue about climate change. And the U.S. midterm elections gave many the chance to highlight opposing positions between Americans.
Over the last three years of Cause and Social Influence research, the responses of young Americans (18- 30) to moments like these seem to reflect the shared values of inclusiveness and support for each other’s rights. Regardless of where they are politically and whether they support or oppose an issue or position, young Americans appear to care about the rights of others to hold an opinion different from their own.
As cause leaders, we must recognize that young Americans are not a monolith. We must accept that researchers, political leaders and media outlets do not always study all sides of an issue or explore all points of view. Stereotypes about this age group aren’t being proven by behaviors. The best thing we can do is become a trusted source of the authentic, complete and unbiased information young Americans are looking for. In the end, the knowledge and opinions they develop now will shape society for years to come, and the causes and organizations that became their trusted sources of information will be far ahead of those that did not.
Introduction
Each quarter, Cause and Social Influence tracks the behaviors and motivations of young Americans on today’s social issue moments and movements. This, the final report of 2022, presents findings from the final survey of 2022 alongside those from earlier waves in the year for easy comparison. The report also features notable data points on social movements and social movement leaders and findings from the final quarter’s area of focus: measuring social movement success. See the previous 2022 reports at causeandsocialinfluence.com/download-latest-research.
Methodology
Cause and Social Influence researchers took a quantitative approach with online surveys fielded March 26-27, July 9-10, September 23-25 and December 14-15, 2022, of 4,000 young Americans (ages 18-30) (1,000 per quarter) – nationally representative samples based on census-projected ethnic and demographic composition. With the response rate of each survey, the data presented has a 95% confidence interval and 3% margin of error. Researchers asked respondents to self-identify their race/ethnicity and gender identity. Write-in answers and non-answers were accepted.
Research Team
Derrick Feldmann Lead Researcher
Amy Thayer, Ph.D. Researcher
Cassie Evard Research Associate
Cindy Dashnaw Copywriter
Tyler Hansen Graphic Design
Key Findings
Expectations of Corporate Social Involvement and Belief in Corporate Influence Remained Strong for Third Consecutive Year.
The Country is on Track and Should Prioritize the Budget/Economy, Immigration and Climate Change.
Young Americans’ Opinions on Government Improved Slightly After Midterms.
Slightly More Than Half of Young Americans Believe Their Social Movement Participation Led to Success.
Media Coverage is Most-Valued Measure of a Social Movement’s Success.
Young Americans Respond to Social Movement Leaders Who Exhibit Traits of Kindness, Persuasion and Transparency.
High Percentage of Young Americans Received Harsh Feedback or Threats From Social Issue or Movement Action but Think it’s Worth the Risk.