Generation Mainstream
Young people in Germany identify with the social mainstream – and actively support diversity.
Being different, provocative and rebellious has apparently become a thing of the past. Today most young people in Germany would like to be the same as everyone else. Normal and mainstream are no longer terms of abuse for youngsters whatever their background or heritage. In fact, they even describe themselves as such. This is the main finding of a Sinus Institute study entitled “How Young People Tick 2016”. It found that a shared code of values is especially important for most 14- to 17-year-olds in Germany. The majority of the 72 youngsters surveyed agreed that freedom, education, tolerance and social values are most important at the present time. There is an equally high acceptance of diversity: the majority are in favour of taking in refugees and asylum seekers.
The Internet plays a definite part in the everyday lives of young people in Germany: youngsters do not go online, they are online – permanently. The Sinus Institute study describes this as “digital saturation”: the Internet is taken for granted. It is also perfectly normal to use smartphone apps – for example, when young people need to find out about the best travel options.
