Society Watch 2024: Understanding the new generation of voters

The Society Watch series provides a snapshot of what life is like for people in Britain today, focused around a particularly timely societal issue. This year’s report focuses on the complexities of societal issues and explores the nuances of generational attitudes. Do generations even matter? Do our attitudes from a younger age carry through to older age, or are there distinct attitudinal differences between generations? And what does this mean for UK politics? How do we engage the next generation of voters? In 2020, Gen Z represented just 9% of electorate, but they are expected to make up 25% of the electorate by 2030, and to remain at 25% until the 2060s. Our research will provide an overview of how attitudes differ between generations and why understanding these differences is crucial for shaping policies, bridging generational gaps, and predicting future social changes. Society Watch 2024 will explore the impact of generation effects and age effects on attitudes, shedding light on how life stages shape individuals' views. From exploring Gen Z's perspectives on law and order to analysing their stance on social care and aspirations for home ownership, this event will showcase the latest research on generational attitudes and foster insightful discussion among policy-makers, NGOs, charities, researchers, academia, and other relevant stakeholders.