Are young people intolerant?

Do you think some young people are intolerant of others opinions?

Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4, does. She says that a growing number of young people, particularly those in Gen Z, find it challenging to work alongside individuals with differing opinions. Channel 4's research also revealed that almost half (48%) of the Gen Z respondents support the concept of 'cancelling' someone who holds opposing views.

It's stupid to judge an entire generation based on a subset of that group. Even the C.4 research indicates that 52% disagree with 'cancelling,' people. Not everyone in Gen Z will avoid debate, and not everyone will support cancel culture.

How can we understand this?

Have you ever stopped yourself from sharing an opinion, fearing backlash or isolation? If you have, you've experienced what social psychologist Elizabeth Noelle-Neumann called the “Spiral of Silence.” She argued that we all have a tendency to keep our mouths shut when we think our views are unpopular. This results in minority opinions seeming to be more popular than majority ones. Noelle-Neumann said that we are constantly scanning the social environment to figure out what the popular and prevailing opinions are. These perceptions, whether accurate or not, determine the opinions we feel safe to voice. If we think that our views are in the minority, we keep quiet and sometimes even express an opinion we personally disagree with. This is how extreme and usually minority opinions that are aggressively pushed come to dominate and be seen as mainstream. The continuous silencing of dissenting opinions stifles diversity of thought, creativity, and innovation.

In diverse and inclusive professional environments, it’s very important to cultivate a culture where diverse opinions are valued and encouraged. Leaders in business and education need to think hard and find the integrity and moral courage to make sure that a loud and motivated minority does not silence different voices.

Setting boundaries is a critical responsibility for leaders in businesses, universities, and schools. It's clearly wrong to turn a blind eye to egregious behaviours, but there’s an equally compelling need to stand up to the unjust 'cancellation' of individuals for legitimate, if unpopular, opinions. It is critical to equip Generation Z with the skills to engage in constructive debate, appreciate diverse perspectives, and distinguish between truly harmful behaviour and just differences of opinion.

Reference: Noelle-Neumann, E. (1974). The Spiral of Silence: A Theory of Public Opinion. Journal of Communication, 24(3), 43–51.