Is meritocracy a myth? A new documentary released by Channel 4 sheds light on the lives of children of famous parents, with one claiming that so-called "nepo babies" have never faced “so much hate”.
Nepo baby truths revealed in TV test
Is meritocracy a myth? A new documentary released by Channel 4 sheds light on the lives of children of famous parents, with one claiming that so-called "nepo babies" have never faced "so much hate".
Have you ever wondered where the phrase "Bob's your uncle" came from? You might be surprised by the answer.
Many believe it originated as a reference to nepotismWhere those with power, wealth or influence favour relatives, friends, or associates, especially by giving them jobs.. In 1887, Britain's Prime Minister Robert "Bob" Gascoyne-Cecil decided to give his nephew, Arthur Balfour, a significant governmental position: Chief Secretary for Ireland.
The decision was hugely unpopular. Balfour had little to no experience. And if he had ever asked anyone why he had been given the role, the answer would have been clear: "Bob's your uncle."
Who are some of the most famous nepo babies today? You might think of Dakota Johnson, Miley Cyrus, Brooklyn Beckham, Robert Downey Jr or Lily-Rose Depp, celebrities who all have family members in show business.
Or Spice Girl Mel B's daughter, who recently claimed that nepo babies face more hate today than ever before.
But you could cast your net further back in history - for example, to Augustus Caesar, appointed the first Roman emperor by his father, Julius Caesar.
Today, nepotism is widespread even among normal people. In a 2023 poll of working-age adults in London, half of respondents said that they got their job through personal connections.1
And it is getting worse, not better. Surveys also found that the generation that has benefited most from nepotism in the job market is Gen ZShort for Generation Z, meaning people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s..2
Why have we failed to create a society which values meritThe quality of being particularly good or worthy, deserving of praise or reward. over connections? It seems straightforward: a fair society is one where everybody has a chance to succeed.
But not everyone is convinced a meritocracyThe idea that status comes from talent or ability, not privilege or social class. Sandel argues that many voters feel "humiliated by meritocracy and this entire political project". would be any better. The term 'meritocracy' was created by British sociologist Michael Young in 1958. Young thought that a meritocratic society would be a dystopiaThe opposite of utopia (an imaginary vision of a perfect world). The term dystopia comes from Greek and literally means bad place..
Young believed that in a meritocracy, society would become highly divided between a talented, power-hungry elite and a disadvantaged, unskilled underclass - a dictatorship of the talented.
Is meritocracy a myth?
Yes: No society has ever been truly meritocratic, not even the most equal societies in the world. Everything in life is set up to benefit a narrow elite who all know each other.
No: We live in a far more meritocratic society now than we did in the past. Reforming education, employment rights and civil rights has helped us to ensure that talent does not go unnoticed because of lack of privilege.
Or... Meritocracy is not any more fair than nepotism. Why should you earn more and live a better life just because you have the advantage of intelligence or talent? Under a meritocratic system, you could justify a CEO earning 1,000 times as much as one of his unskilled workers.
Nepotism - Where those with power, wealth or influence favour relatives, friends, or associates, especially by giving them jobs.
Gen Z - Short for Generation Z, meaning people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Merit - The quality of being particularly good or worthy, deserving of praise or reward.
Meritocracy - The idea that status comes from talent or ability, not privilege or social class. Sandel argues that many voters feel "humiliated by meritocracy and this entire political project".
Dystopia - The opposite of utopia (an imaginary vision of a perfect world). The term dystopia comes from Greek and literally means bad place.
Nepo baby truths revealed in TV test

Glossary
Nepotism - Where those with power, wealth or influence favour relatives, friends, or associates, especially by giving them jobs.
Gen Z - Short for Generation Z, meaning people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Merit - The quality of being particularly good or worthy, deserving of praise or reward.
Meritocracy - The idea that status comes from talent or ability, not privilege or social class. Sandel argues that many voters feel "humiliated by meritocracy and this entire political project".
Dystopia - The opposite of utopia (an imaginary vision of a perfect world). The term dystopia comes from Greek and literally means bad place.