Youth Pulse 2026

Young people are rebuilding community and belonging in an age of fragmentation – redefining connection, inclusion and civic purpose.Social outlook Around the world, young people are growing up in a paradox: more connected than ever yet often feeling alone. Digital technologies have made interaction instant and borderless, but they have also blurred the boundaries between work and rest, self and society. Nearly half of survey respondents (48%) believe the normalization of digital lifestyles will define the decade ahead, and almost as many expect rising social fragmentation (47.8%) and loneliness (44%) to be the defining features of life. These findings echo global research: the “World Happiness Report 2025” identifies young people as the group most affected by social isolation and declining mental health,22 while the “ILO Youth Employment Trends 2025” links financial insecurity to heightened anxiety.23 Together, these pressures are reshaping how young people relate to one another – and to society itself. Despite these strains, young people are not withdrawing. They are reimagining community. Across regions, they are building new forms of belonging – digital and in-person – that blend connection with purpose, and care with civic action. These are the societal trends that young people are tracking – social dynamics shaping their sense of identity, connection and participation in an increasingly complex world. 28 Youth Pulse 2026: Insights from the next generation for a changing world