Recent Partnership polling suggests that an effective use of social media may help build trust in government among young people, a key to recruiting the next generation of public servants to solve our nation’s pressing challenges.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, just 30%<\/a> of Americans between the ages of 18-34 trust our federal government and less than one-half<\/a> hold favorable views of public servants. Conversely, 42% and 75% of those 65 and over trust the government and hold positive views of public servants, respectively. This trust deficit may be a factor in why employees under 30 compose just 7%<\/a> of the federal workforce but 20% of the overall U.S. workforce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While bridging this alarming gap in trust and representation requires a comprehensive systemic approach, one effective strategy involves improving the ways in which federal agencies share information with the public, particularly by delivering relevant messages through appropriate channels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In September 2023, the Partnership for Public Service conducted an online survey that among other things, sought to examine how different groups of people interact with government-related stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps expectedly, the data suggested that social media plays a bigger role in shaping the opinions of youth as compared to older demographic groups. When asked to select the most trusted source for positive stories about the federal government, only 8% of respondents chose social media. However, among those 18\u201324, this number jumped to 18%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, 56% of those aged 18-24 found it either very or somewhat important for agencies to have a social media presence, while only 38% of all our respondents did. This data illustrates the critical role that platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X\/Twitter play in reaching and engaging young adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSurvey insights: Social media\u2019s influence on youth perceptions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n