Young people still want the American Dream, but it feels out of reach

Research Report – January 2025

How would you describe the American Dream?

Key Takeaways

  • Young people still want the American Dream: 86% of young people want to achieve the American Dream in some capacity — but they say finances are a significant barrier

  • Not everyone can have it: 60% said the American Dream is realistic and achievable for most people in today's society, but 60% also said it would be difficult to achieve it themselves personally

  • Social media is shaping perceptions: 50% of respondents say social media has the biggest influence on how they view the American Dream (above movies, TV shows, news, podcasts, or other forms of media)

  • Socioeconomic representation matters: More than half of young people (54%) say they want to see more characters dealing with finances or money-related issues in movies and TV shows

  • Happiness is harder to come by: 74% say it’s harder for their generation to achieve happiness compared to previous generations

Many young people still want the American Dream, but doubt they can really have it

Most young people report still wanting to achieve some version of the American Dream, but they say finances remain a significant barrier, and they feel less confident in their ability to achieve happiness. 

“The American Dream feels like this big promise—that if you work hard enough, you can make it, no matter where you come from. But sometimes it just feels like a myth. You see people struggling, working their butts off, and still barely getting by. It's like you're told you can achieve anything, but then the world keeps putting up walls, making it harder to reach that dream. It's hard to believe in something that feels so far away” – 17-year-old Latina (Yonkers, NY)

86% of respondents voiced an interest in achieving the American Dream in some capacity, and 73% of respondents personally identified with at least some of its values and principles (upward mobility, financial independence, a nuclear family model, securing a better future for one’s children, success through determination and hard work, home ownership, etc.). But young people with lower socioeconomic status were less likely to believe that achieving it is possible for everyone. This finding was in line with Pew Research’s data last year, which showed lower income Americans across age groups less likely to believe the American Dream is achievable compared to those with higher incomes. 

And while, overall, 60% of young respondents in our survey said that the American Dream is realistic and achievable for most people in today's society, 60% also said it would be difficult to achieve it themselves personally. 74% of young people agreed it's harder for their generation to achieve happiness compared to previous generations. Economic challenges were reported as the number one barrier to achieving the American Dream.

Social media is shaping ideas around success

Young people reported that they get most of their information about the American Dream from social media, and 79% of young people said they believe social media challenges traditional concepts around the American Dream more effectively than TV or movies. Participants reported primarily using Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube, while some also reported using Facebook and X frequently. Elon Musk and Donald Trump were cited most frequently when participants were asked to list someone whose lifestyle inspires them and they want to be like.

When asked how they would redefine the American Dream, good mental and physical health emerged as the top priority, followed closely by financial security and independence. At the other end of the spectrum, getting married and having children ranked lowest, signaling a shift away from some of the more traditional notions of the American Dream. This is in line with what we see more broadly, with recent research from MassMutual showing many young people are opting out of parenthood primarily due to financial reasons. The finding also lines up with recent research from the Sine Institute at American University, which showed happiness, quality relationships, and financial success as top priorities for young people, while marriage and parenthood sank to the bottom of the list. 

Youth want more relatable stories about money and mental health 

When asked about the types of stories they prefer, young people reported a preference for content focused on mental health, financial struggles, and family or friendship dynamics over themes like romantic or sexual relationships, academic or professional challenges, or systemic societal issues.

And more than half (54%) of young people said they want more realistic portrayals of finances in TV shows and movies, such as characters navigating money-related challenges, rather than the glamorized, effortless lifestyles often depicted. 37% of adolescents said they think current TV shows and movies either don’t or only a little bit realistically depict what it takes to be successful and happy in today’s world. They pointed to shows like Modern Family, Full House, and Young Sheldon as examples of media promoting the typical American Dream narrative, while they listed Shameless, Breaking Bad, and The Great Gatsby as examples of media challenging the traditional American Dream. 

Storytellers have a critical opportunity to more accurately reflect the lived experiences of so many young audiences they want to reach today, who are increasingly concerned about both their financial status and mental health. After all, approximately 1 in 3 adolescents live in families at less than twice the federal poverty line. Over 50% of Gen-Zers said they are extremely worried about not having enough money, and almost half report holding both a job and a side hustle to make ends meet. Download the full report below to learn more. 

How to Cite This Report: 

Durazi, A., Burrus, A., Hines, A., & Uhls, Y.T. (2025). The American Dream Remains Desirable, But Feels Out Of Reach For Generation Z. Center for Scholars & Storytellers. https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/american-dream

Authors

  • Amaesha Durazi

    Fellow

    Amaesha Durazi is a doctoral student in the Human Development & Psychology division of the Education Department at UCLA. Her research explores children's developing understanding of identity and social inequality, with a focus on parental socialization of race and racism in Asian American families. Amaesha aims to leverage her research to develop innovative, practice-based, and policy-oriented solutions.

  • Atlas Burrus

    Research Manager

    Atlas Burrus is the full-time Research Manager at the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) at UCLA. In their role at CSS, they oversee data collection, coding and analysis, and lead regular lab meetings for research fellows and collaborators. Atlas is a passionate advocate for queer representation, friendship, and community, and they received their Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Education Studies at UCLA.

  • Alisha J. Hines, PhD

    Research Director

    As director of research, Dr. Alisha J. Hines leads the research team and oversees all studies conducted at the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA. She earned her PhD in History & African American Studies from Duke University and is a former faculty member of Wake Forest University's History Department.

  • Yalda T. Uhls, MBA, PhD

    Founder and CEO

    Founder and CEO of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, Dr. Yalda T. Uhls is an internationally recognized, award-winning research scientist, educator, and author, who specializes in studying how media affects young people. She received her MBA and PhD in developmental psychology from UCLA, is a former movie executive at companies like MGM and Sony, and is a proud Gen Z parent.

Special Thanks To:

The Funders for Adolescent Science Translation (FAST)