Gen Z on News Media, Donald Trump, Alt-Right and Strong Male Leadership

Why the distrust of news media amp160Gen Z thinks today39s anchors and pundits have an agenda amp160Technically they think that about social media as well but on Instagramamp160it39s easier to dispel that belief by building a stronger more personal relationship with followers amp160Our social media lives may be carefully cultivated but at least they39re dictated by usamp160and not some mass media conglomerate amp160With social mediaamp160we39re in charge of our own story amp160With mass mediaamp160we39re passive consumersDonald Trump and AltRightWhen he first rose to political prominence Barack Obama provided a new and to some refreshingamp160take on masculinity amp160He demonstrated that powerful men could show both compassion and superior intellect amp160During the 2016 election however Donald Trump turned that image on its head returning to a more traditional take on what it means to be male amp160His campaign was one of unbridled masculinity at least according to old school definitions amp160Women the LGBTQ communityamp160and many men found this distasteful but Trump39s message appealed greatly to a significant segment of Gen Z those born between 1995 and 2005 amp160These individuals have increasingly turned away from the traditional political voices of Hollywood and towards new role models amp160For exampleamp160Milo Yiannopoulos has been largely referred to as the new voice of young conservatives he39s brash in your faceamp160and a master of social mediaSince Trump39s election young activistsamp160have doubled down in their support amp160Although the president39s most loyal advocates remain Gen X and Baby Boomer men he continues to enjoy a strong following among conservative pockets of Millennials and Gen Z adolescents and adults amp160Once concerned about not having a voice several young men have shifted their allegiance from the Republican Party to the growing alt right movement Already studies indicate that today39s teens and young adults are more conservative than their Millennial predecessors amp160According to an AnchorFree study of 2000 young people born between 19902009 commissioned by MyersBizNet young people born post1996 are progressively more likely to be conservative and less likely to be politically progressiveamp160 Asamp160more of the younger Gen Z cohort age into the voting block they may help to elect future quotfringequotamp160candidates such as Donald Trumpamp160A Real Man Can Get His Point Across in 140 CharactersMuch of Gen Z39s admiration for Trump derives from his willingness to call it as he sees it a trait we39d be just as inclined to admire in his liberal counterparts amp160Hence the concurrent popularity of Bernie Sanders who despite holding many opposing views sharesamp160Trump39samp160status as renegadeWhether Gen Z men identify as MAGA enthusiasts or Bernie Bros it39s clear that their generation values bold rhetoric amp160They39re not about beating around the bush as far as they39re concerned a real man can get his point across in 140 characters amp160They39d love to see younger politicians but ultimately rhetoric matters way more than age amp160If a male politician is active enthusiastic in tune with their viewpoints and addressing their fears they39ll provide wholehearted support amp160and he will influence their perceptions of masculinity just as much as if not more than movie stars and Instagram influencersClick here for Jack Myers39 Complete Understanding Gen Z series amp160Myers is author of The Future of Men Masculinity in the TwentyFirst Century and Hooked Up A New Generation39s Surprising Take on Sex Politics and Saving the WorldreferenceResearch and support was provided by Stephanie G a Gen Z copywriter dance team coachamp160and event marketer She isamp160passionate about Gen Z and confident that if young adults support and encourage one another there is no limit to what they can accomplishClick the social buttons above or below to share this story with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

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Gen Z on News Media, Donald Trump, Alt-Right and Strong Male Leadership

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