The latest volume published by the Youth Research Institute, Like-Democracy and Everyday Decision-Making among Hungarian Youth, has been released. At the book’s presentation, the authors explored the public engagement of Generation Z and the complexities of their political socialisation. The discussion highlighted how, in an increasingly dynamic world, young people’s opinions are shaped by family influences, social media, and information mediated by artificial intelligence.
The Role of Family and the Online Sphere in Socialisation
Georgina Kiss-Kozma, Deputy Director of the Youth Research Institute, emphasised that the Institute’s research in 2025 focused on the transformation of content consumption patterns, which directly affect political participation. Although interest in politics among young people is generally moderate - with first-time voters constituting a notable exception - the family continues to play the most significant role in political socialisation. The dominance of the online sphere is evident in the finding that 8 out of 10 young people consume public affairs content. At the same time, the issue of credibility remains divisive: while most follow musicians and influencers, those who regularly engage with politically oriented content tend to regard political analysts as the most trustworthy sources, and celebrities as the least credible.
Leadership Ideals and Sense of Security
Roland Tardi, Head of Academia at MCC, analysed the value system of Hungarian youth and pointed out that their ideal of leadership is defined by practical competence and a commitment to national sovereignty. He noted that in times of crisis, national commitment becomes the most important expectation. The discussion also underscored that a sense of security is fundamental to a balanced life. Although Hungary is statistically considered a safe country, the uncertainty generated by the overwhelming flow of information poses a serious mental challenge for young people.
Future Orientation in the Mirror of Ambivalence
Miklós Bálint Tóth, a research fellow at the School of Social Sciences and History, Center for Political Science at MCC, described young people’s outlook on the future as “ambivalent.” Despite economic uncertainty, a significant proportion of Hungarian youth remain optimistic about key life milestones. The data suggest grounds for optimism regarding traditional values: a majority of respondents (51%) plan to have (additional) children, many expect to be living in marriage by 2050, and only 20% reject traditional forms of partnership.
Participants in the professional roundtable agreed that one of the greatest challenges facing young people is the “narrowing time horizon” and the lack of long-term predictability. According to the researchers, the antidote to pervasive uncertainty lies in restoring a predictable vision of the future and re-establishing stable “anchors” amid informational noise. The discussion concluded with the observation that the ultimate goal is to restore certainty and the credibility of authority, thereby enabling young people’s “likes” to mature into conscious and responsible civic decisions.
Budapest, April 2, 2026
