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The global shapers survey of young people across the world has shown that inequality is the biggest concern everywhere.Pictured: young people participate at the Empowering European Citizens, Module 2 in MalmöIRUC, Malmö, 2012-02-09Picture credit: Demokratiekollektivet Watch it! 

Following that, young Europeans were worried about the ageing population (45.5%), climate change (33%), and government accountability/transparency/corruption (27.8%). However, in Germany this last issue was replaced with loss of privacy (28.4%).

Young Europeans were also asked which factors they consider most important to youth empowerment in your country. A fair and just system was the most important factor for 42.2%; access to the internet for 33.1%, and free media/social media for 32.7%.

Almost 25,000 people aged between 18 and 35 from 186 countries and territories took part in the Global Shapers Annual Survey 2017, compiled by the world economic forum. It showed that 55.9% of respondents believe their views are not being taken into account before important decisions are made.

Values and society

57.3% of Europeans identify themselves as “human” or “citizen of the world”. Only 2% identify with their ethnicity and 2.4% with their religion, while philosophical beliefs are important for 8.8% of young Europeans.

Identity Global shapers survey 2017

Young people from Europe give thoughtful answers when asked what would make them feel more free. For almost half, equal access to opportunities is missing in their society. For 26.2%, job security would make them feel more free; for 16.5%, it would be living without fear, and for 11.9% it would be the ability to make their own life choices.

Global shapers survey 2017

Global outlook

Young Europeans are very concerned about the issue of inequality in society. The highest drivers of inequality are income (33.8%), race (18.1%), religion (12.1%), access to resources (10.8%) and gender (10.5%).

They place the responsibility squarely at the feet of governments, who 30.1% of respondents said had the greatest role to play in making the world a better place. However, 12.6% feel that global and large national companies have the greatest influence.

Global shapers survey 2017

Technology and innovation

Almost 30% of young Europeans think artificial intelligence will be the next big technology trend, followed by biotechnology (12.3%) and driver-less cars (9.4%). 19.1% would consider having a skin or brain implant if it increased their capabilities; 33.4% are unsure. On the question of whether they would trust decisions made by a robot on their behalf, 43.3% would not. Half of the respondents would not support giving rights to humanoid robots.

Global shapers survey 2017

A majority of young Europeans state (64.9%) they have not shared a news article that they later learned was fake news. 17.2% think it’s likely without knowing about it, and 10.1% are not sure.