It’s Pride Month – and to celebrate we are revisiting research from our Beyond 2020: Global Youth – Voices & Futures study to look closely at global youth aged 16 to 24, and their commitment to promoting greater equality both now and in the future.

So, what have we learned?

They believe their generation is more open-minded. Almost 8 in 10 young people believe their generation will be less willing to put up with injustice and inequality than previous generations. Three-quarters have hope that their generation will treat everyone equally, regardless of sexual orientation, race, gender, or religion.

They’re getting educated and having conversations around social issues. Half of young people globally have taken time to educate themselves about social issues such as LGBT and trans rights (among other issues). Almost 1 in 3 have taken part in conversations about social injustice. When they look ahead, 83% believe that in the future everyone will be expected to educate themselves about social issues.

They’re taking action against inequality. Young people feel responsible to act, with 80% saying they will be actively involved in creating a society of equality. They are engaged in activism, with 54% reporting that they are actively involved in social movements and campaigning for change. The tumultuous events of 2020 also inspired 1 in 5 young people globally to attend a conference, seminar, webinar or class about social issues.

They don’t want brands to be neutral. More than 8 in 10 young people globally expect brands to stand up against social injustice. And when they think about the future, 78% predict that 10 years from now, brands will take more of a stand against social injustice than they do now.

They’re optimistic about their ability to make a difference. Most young people (84%) believe their generation has the potential to change the world for the better.