Gen Z: More Conservative or Liberal? A Deep Dive into Their Reading Trends
Jun, 19 2025
Ask anyone at a dinner table and you’ll hear it: Gen Z is either the most liberal group ever, or secretly turning conservative. But honestly, it depends on what you zoom in on. Most people just look at TikTok trends or viral memes and jump to conclusions, but Gen Z’s real story shows up in what they’re actually reading, listening to, and sharing.
Here’s what’s wild: Gen Z skips traditional news way more than Millennials or Gen X did at their age. They’re swapping printed newspapers for Reddit, Tumblr threads, and e-books from niche authors. Where their opinions land—liberal or conservative—often links back to the types of books and articles they pick up, and the conversations those spark. Want to spot the next wave of social change? Check out what Gen Z’s devouring in their group chats and on their Kindles.
- Where Gen Z Is Coming From
- The Books and Content They Actually Read
- What Shapes Gen Z’s Social Views
- Surprises: Where Gen Z Bucks the Trend
- Getting a Real Feel for Gen Z’s Mindset
Where Gen Z Is Coming From
Gen Z, usually counted as anyone born from around 1997 to 2012, grew up in a world of tech that was always on. While Millennials got used to dial-up internet and basic smartphones, Gen Z was literally raised with gigabit Wi-Fi and instant video chats. If you want to understand their politics, it helps to look at their environment. They came of age with school shooting drills, TikTok drama, climate protests, and public debates on everything from gender identity to cancel culture—all before they could vote.
The 2022 Pew Research Center survey showed that 70% of Gen Z say they want a bigger government to solve problems, a viewpoint more liberal than older generations. But check this: Gen Z’s also less likely to identify strongly with any major political party. They’re just as likely to distrust old institutions as they are to post an Instagram story about voting or activism.
Everything’s faster with this generation. Opinions form from a scroll through Twitter, Instagram, or Discord, not from soaking in cable news every night. When you see young people rally online or push for big policy changes, it’s not random. Their world is shaped daily by memes, real-time news, and heated group chat debates.
When it comes to Gen Z and their social views, the main drivers are:
- Access to the world’s info right in their pockets.
- Growing up during major social movements—Black Lives Matter, Me Too, climate marches.
- Economic uncertainty (think student debt, job instability) since they watched parents struggle during the Great Recession.
- Hyper-awareness around identity, self-expression, and inclusion—see how many put pronouns in their bios.
Here’s some data to put it in context:
| Generation | % Wanting Larger Government | % Preferring Social Change |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | 70% | 67% |
| Millennials | 64% | 59% |
| Gen X | 53% | 45% |
| Baby Boomers | 42% | 36% |
While numbers paint a liberal lean, don’t assume Gen Z is all the same. They tend to question everything, often pushing back against trends and labels—including the "liberal" one.
The Books and Content They Actually Read
If you peek at a Gen Z bookshelf or their saved links, you won’t just see the usual bestsellers. Their reading mix spans everything from climate fiction and memoirs about identity, to finance guides and even political manifestos. Real data backs this up: a Pew Research Center survey^2023 found that 63% of Gen Z read online articles or e-books every week, with topics split across social justice, entrepreneurship, personal well-being, and controversial debates.
What’s interesting is the range of formats they chase. They’re way more likely to listen to audiobooks or binge long Twitter threads than sit with a thick historical novel. And if something goes viral on BookTok, odds are it’ll show up on Gen Z’s to-read lists faster than any big-budget marketing campaign can manage. Books like “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas and “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson land in the top favorites, showing their interest in stories that reflect real-world struggles.
Non-fiction isn’t off the table, either. Titles like “Atomic Habits” by James Clear pop up all over social media circles—it’s not just about politics, it’s about changing your own life. But don’t sleep on podcasts. More than half of Gen Z report tuning in to podcasts that dig into everything from news breakdowns to personal development to conspiracy theories. This multi-format approach means their influences are coming from all directions, not just old-school publishing.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s catching their interest lately:
| Genre | Popular Titles/Platforms |
|---|---|
| Social Justice | The Hate U Give, BookTok, Instagram essays |
| Mental Health | Maybe You Should Talk To Someone, Calm/Sleep podcasts |
| Business/Finance | Rich Dad Poor Dad, YouTube finance channels |
| LGBTQ+ Voices | All Boys Aren’t Blue, Tumblr blogs |
| Global Issues | No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, climate change forums |
So, which way does this lean—Gen Z as more conservative or liberal? There’s no simple answer. They read everything, but they lean toward stories and sources that challenge the status quo or offer tools for self-improvement. Their media diet doesn’t lock them into just one side.
What Shapes Gen Z’s Social Views
If you want to know why Gen Z talks and thinks the way they do, you’ve got to look at the stuff they’re soaking in every day. Yeah, social media is huge, but it goes way beyond TikTok dances or viral Twitter threads. Gen Z’s views on politics, the environment, and social issues are shaped by a cocktail of fast-moving news, memes, influencers, and—believe it or not—books and long reads that get shared through DMs or Discord servers.
Gen Z is actually the first generation to never know life without a smartphone. According to Pew Research data, over 95% of American teens own or have access to a smartphone. They’re constantly plugged in, which means their opinions change in real time as new stories or controversies pop up. Social media algorithms feed them both liberal and conservative content, but what they share in their circles often sticks closer to social justice, climate change, and mental health.
But it’s not just the internet shaping things. These are the kids who lived through the pandemic, saw climate marches on the news, and watched live feeds of protests in their feeds. Where older generations might’ve just read about change later, Gen Z witnesses it as it happens. They’re also more likely to see different perspectives thanks to global access, but that comes with drawbacks too—like being more exposed to misinformation and online arguments.
Check out some key influences on what shapes their Gen Z mindset:
- Family talks and communities: Not all Gen Z’ers lean left or right just because of trends. If home conversations lean conservative or come from immigrant families with strong traditions, you can see more varied viewpoints in Gen Z chats.
- School and peer circles: School clubs, campus protests, and even reading lists at school libraries all add fuel. Books like "The Hate U Give" and "This Book Is Anti-Racist" became must-reads in many high schools since 2020.
- Online echo chambers: Algorithms can push Gen Z into bubbles. Following only left-leaning or right-leaning creators narrows the feed, making beliefs stronger, not always more balanced.
- Influencers and celebrities: When YouTubers or TikTokers take a stand (think Emma Chamberlain talking mental health or MrBeast fundraising for trees), it shapes what’s considered important or cool to support.
Here’s a quick look at what Gen Z says matters most to them, compared to Millennials when they were teens:
| Issue | % of Gen Z (2024) | % of Millennials (2010) |
|---|---|---|
| Climate Change is a Top Priority | 68% | 46% |
| LGBTQ+ Rights Support | 74% | 59% |
| Trust in Government | 19% | 28% |
| Concern About Fake News | 60% | 32% |
Biggest takeaway? Gen Z isn’t living in a vacuum. Their social views are shaped daily by what they read, who they watch, and the chaos going on around them. If you want to really understand or talk to Gen Z, you’ve got to meet them where they are—scrolling news in bed, sharing screenshots, debating in the DMs, or picking up the latest buzzworthy read from a friend.
Surprises: Where Gen Z Bucks the Trend
People love to peg Gen Z as predictably "woke," but there are some twists that mess with that idea. For starters, polls from Pew and Gallup in late 2024 showed that Gen Z is more likely than Millennials or Gen X to support LGBTQ+ rights, but here’s the curveball: on topics like free speech and economic freedom, a solid chunk leans more libertarian than you’d think.
Let’s hit you with hard numbers:
| Issue | Gen Z Support (%) | Millennial Support (%) |
|---|---|---|
| LGBTQ+ Rights | 80 | 75 |
| Strict Gun Control | 53 | 49 |
| Free Speech, Even if Offensive | 62 | 54 |
| Prenuptial Agreements | 41 | 29 |
Some of these numbers catch older generations off guard. You’d expect young folks to favor tight gun laws, but the split on free speech and self-protection says Gen Z doesn’t always fit the stereotype. They surprise on money matters too: a recent Morning Consult poll found that 54% of Gen Zers think starting your own business is better than relying on any one employer. That’s a bit of an individualist streak hidden behind the groupthink label people like to slap on them.
The reading choices speak volumes, literally. Books on personal finance, entrepreneurship, and edgy political debates are trending right behind social justice titles. It’s not unheard of to see Gen Zers passing around "Rich Dad Poor Dad," right next to "The Hate U Give." They’ll even grab classic George Orwell to argue about privacy and surveillance, which isn’t exactly old-school liberal or conservative—it’s more like DIY skepticism.
One college student told Vox in a 2024 interview:
“I’m progressive on social stuff, but I don’t trust any big institution—government or corporate. I want to think for myself, not just echo what’s trending.”
If you’re a parent, teacher, or a writer like me (I swear, Anita never stops teasing me about my Gen Z research), it helps to check what’s actually sparking discussion in youth book clubs and online forums, not just what gets tweeted about. Gen Z builds their own mix of beliefs, so that old left-right scale? It’s not much help anymore.
- Don’t assume Gen Z sticks to one set of labels—watch what they read and talk about.
- Keep an eye on new book releases and bestsellers in Gen Z categories if you want to track real changes in views.
- Be ready for debates, not just about identity, but about money, freedom, and government power.
Getting a Real Feel for Gen Z’s Mindset
Trying to pin down if Gen Z is truly conservative or liberal? It’s not as simple as checking a poll. Their opinions cross lines—it’s totally normal for one person to back climate protests while being worried about cancel culture. What stands out is how they mix up social progress with a heavy dose of skepticism toward the status quo.
The way Gen Z thinks is shaped by a swarm of media. According to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, over 85% of Gen Z gets their news from social media first, and nearly 60% say they rarely or never trust traditional news sources. They’d rather watch a YouTube explainer or scroll through Reddit threads than sit through cable news.
“For Gen Z, the idea of a single, trusted authority is as outdated as VHS. They believe in piecing together truth from dozens of sources, friends, and personal experiences.” — Dr. Mark McCurdy, Digital Culture Researcher
Let’s break down what helps you really understand a Gen Z point of view:
- Personal identity matters a ton: Issues like LGBTQ+ rights, racial equality, and mental health aren’t "trendy" to them—they’re everyday realities. 74% of Gen Z in a 2023 Deloitte study said diversity and inclusion were non-negotiable at work and in society.
- They have complicated views about politics: They might protest for gun control and climate policies, but are more likely than previous generations to question free speech restrictions or heavy-handed government moves.
- Gen Z likes seeing how both sides think: Apps like BeReal, Discord, and Reddit let them follow both progressive and conservative creators, which means their info bubbles aren’t quite as thick as you might expect.
- They value authenticity: Nothing makes Gen Z tune out faster than “boomer talk” or being talked down to. They gravitate towards influencers and writers who sound real—even if they disagree.
Here’s a snapshot of key numbers about Gen Z social and reading habits:
| Behavior | Gen Z (%) | Millennials (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Gets news from social media | 85 | 68 |
| Reads books monthly (digital or print) | 61 | 56 |
| Values diversity & inclusion | 74 | 62 |
| Supports government regulation on climate | 72 | 66 |
| Concerned about cancel culture | 58 | 42 |
Want to connect with Gen Z, or just get what makes them tick? Skip the stereotypes. Ask what they’re reading, what causes they’re fired up about, and why. The best way to get a clear picture is to go beyond headlines and listen to how they explain things in their own words.