Is falling trust in media to blame? A shocking new survey suggests that more than half of Generation Z would prefer a strong, self-appointed leader to a democratically elected one.
Most young 'want a UK dictatorship'
Is falling trust in media to blame? A shocking new survey suggests that more than half of Generation Z would prefer a strong, self-appointed leader to a democratically elected one.
For Max Hayward, it should have been an honour. The 25-year-old language expert had been asked to interpret for the British Ambassador, Sir David Kelly, at a meeting with Joseph StalinDictator of the Soviet Union. Stalin has been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including sentencing around a million political opponents to death and prison. in Moscow. But when they came face to face with the Russian leader, Hayward was unable to speak: his knowledge of Stalin's crimes left him literally dumbstruck.
Between 1936 and 1938, Stalin had carried out a purge of those he thought disloyal to him. In what became known as the Great Terror, almost 700,000 people were officially executed. Factoring in unofficial executions and deaths due to mistreatment in prison, the total number of Stalin's victims is believed to stand at over one million.
Stalin was without doubt one of the most monstrous people who ever lived. Despite this, there are some in Russia who admire him. They say that he was the "strong leader" the country needed.
Now, according to a survey which will be published in full on Thursday, the majority of young people in Britain would like a leader in the same mould.
The findings are part of a Channel 4 report called Gen Z: Trends, Truth And Trust. One of the questions was whether the UK would be better with a strong, unelected leader.
Of those aged between 13 and 27, 52% said yes. In addition, 33% said that the UK would be better off ruled by the army.
The head of Channel 4, Alex Mahon, links these views to confusion about whom to trust. Gen Z "are media savvy, switched on and smart, but have been exposed to the full force of the polarisingTo cause people to divide into two opposing groups. , confusing and sometimes wilfully misleading nature of social media since they were born.
"There is clear evidence of disengagement from democracy, fuelled by the online Pied PipersA German fairy tale character, who uses a pipe to lure away children. It is used today as a metaphor for people who use false promises to attract people. who wilfully subvert truths." 1
The poll also found that 58% of Gen Z considered social media posts from friends to be as trustworthy as established journalism. Furthermore, 42% of males put their trust in influencers such as Andrew TateAn American-British media personality who has become notorious for controversial videos. He has been charged with rape and human trafficking. .
According to one 18-year-old: "The people we watch, they propagate this idea that the West is a falling civilisation, and you need to start looking at other places."
Writing in Forbes, Michael Stone identifies declining trust as a defining characteristic of Gen Z - "across every segment of our lives, from the police to the courts, the military, news media, Hollywood and, of course, the government".
Another survey2 found that reporters, along with government officials and the heads of companies, were the people Gen Z trusted least. It also highlighted a different approach to news: "They read headlines first, then comments and only after that, the actual content - if at all."
A third poll3 found that 18-to-24-year-olds were twice as likely to get their news from TikTok than from the BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is the UK's national broadcaster. , even though they trusted it half as much.
Is falling trust in media to blame?
Yes: The Channel 4 report establishes a clear link between it and the rise of extreme views. If traditional news sources did their job better, Gen Z would not be under the sway of dangerous influencers.
No: It is politicians who are responsible. By failing to deal with the problems of a stressed-out generation, and failing to promote moderate views, they have put democracy in peril.
Or... It is the fault of social-media algorithms, which have helped to spread fake news and hooked users on feeds that reduce their attention spans and stop them engaging properly with serious issues.
Joseph Stalin - Dictator of the Soviet Union. Stalin has been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including sentencing around a million political opponents to death and prison.
Polarising - To cause people to divide into two opposing groups.
Pied Pipers - A German fairy tale character, who uses a pipe to lure away children. It is used today as a metaphor for people who use false promises to attract people.
Andrew Tate - An American-British media personality who has become notorious for controversial videos. He has been charged with rape and human trafficking.
BBC - The British Broadcasting Corporation is the UK's national broadcaster.
Most young ‘want a UK dictatorship’

Glossary
Joseph Stalin - Dictator of the Soviet Union. Stalin has been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including sentencing around a million political opponents to death and prison.
Polarising - To cause people to divide into two opposing groups.
Pied Pipers - A German fairy tale character, who uses a pipe to lure away children. It is used today as a metaphor for people who use false promises to attract people.
Andrew Tate - An American-British media personality who has become notorious for controversial videos. He has been charged with rape and human trafficking.
BBC - The British Broadcasting Corporation is the UK's national broadcaster.