Generation Z is shaping up to be even more liberal than Millennials, study shows

The next generation after Millennials, Generation Z, will likely be even more liberal than their predecessors, according to the Pew Research Center.

Generation Z is defined as people born after 1996. Many from that generation are coming into their own politically, as they are between the ages of 13 and 21 years old.

The Pew study shows plenty of similarities between Generation Z and the Millennial generation, but one particular difference stands out: Members of Generation Z want even more government involvement in the lives of individual citizens and in the affairs of businesses.

According to the survey, 70 percent of Generation Z believes government should do more to solve problems, while 64 percent of Millennials hold that opinion. That increase continues a trend that, over the past century, each generation has favored larger and larger government.

Another notable finding from the study is the generational difference in perception on racial and diversity issues between younger and older people who identify as Republicans or lean toward the Republican Party.

For example, Generation Z Republicans are more likely than Republicans from previous generations to believe that blacks are treated less fairly than whites. Forty-three percent of Generation Z Republicans believe that, compared to 30 percent for Millennials, 23 percent for Generation X, and 20 percent each for both the Boomer and Silent generations.

In general, Generation Z is slightly more likely than the Millennial generation to believe that increase diversity is good for society.

"They're overwhelmingly the most racially and ethnically diverse generation we've seen," said Kim Parker, director of social trends research at Pew. "They're on track to be the most well-educated generation we've seen. They're less likely to drop out of high school and more likely to go to college."

Generation Z is also much more used to progressive views on gender and sexuality, with 35 percent of them knowing someone who prefers to be addressed using gender neutral pronouns, and nearly 60 percent saying forms and online profiles should include options other than "man" or "woman" for gender.

(H/T The Hill)