Listening to U.S. adolescents on gender & equality

Toxic online spaces, body image pressure and fear of being judged are harming young people across the United States, particularly girls, this nationwide study for Plan International USA finds. Polling and focus groups with more than 1,000 youths aged 10-19 from every U.S. region found an overwhelming 94% support gender equality, though most don’t see it yet. Most teens also said they distrust social media companies and government to ensure their online safety, while the percentage of young people who had considered running for elected office fell 12%, from around 33% in 2018 to 21% in 2026. This survey aims to gauge the lives and views of young people after eight years of momentous social and technological change, building on our 2018 study, “The State of Gender Equality for U.S. Adolescents.”