Parents and Kids Agree: State of Families in America Is Bleak – Families Believe Government Should Help and Fear Their Voices Are Not Heard

SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, 2025—A survey from Common Sense Media, conducted by Lake Research Partners and Echelon Insights, reveals that despite political divisions, parents and youth across the U.S. share deep concerns and common ground on solutions for the next generation. The findings paint a stark picture of a nation at a crossroads, with families struggling to navigate economic pressures, mental health challenges, and technological disruption while feeling increasingly disconnected from those in power. The study underscores this distress: A striking 58% of parents report that for families like theirs, things are going just fair or poorly, and 61% of children and teenagers report that for kids and teens in America, things are going just fair or poorly. Despite these challenges, there's remarkable consensus on the need for action, with 83% of parents and 80% of young people believing the government should prioritize policies that benefit younger generations.

Key findings from the poll include:

1. Economic Anxiety Looms Large: 73% of parents are concerned about children's future economic opportunities. Two-thirds (66%) lack confidence that today's children will be able to afford housing, and 62% are not confident they'll be able to afford post-secondary education. Meanwhile, youth remain more optimistic about their economic futures, with 68% saying they're confident they will someday be able to afford a house.
2. Mental Health Crisis Demands Action: A majority of parents (54%) and kids and teens (67%) rate children's mental health in their communities as poor or just fair. Both groups agree schools aren't doing enough to support students' mental health and well-being, and see social media as a primary driver of the crisis.
3. Prioritizing Digital Safety and Tech Accountability Nationwide: Nearly two-thirds of parents believe social media has negatively impacted children, while youth have more nuanced views. However, both groups overwhelmingly support implementing stronger guardrails and safety measures for young users. In fact, 81% of parents and 72% of kids and teens favor requiring social media platforms to display warning labels about potential risks to mental health and well-being. Parents also overwhelmingly support requiring age verification and blocking social media accounts for anyone under age 16—and although support is lower among kids and teens, a majority (54%) still back the idea.
4. Education Is Common Ground, But Lacks Sufficient Investment: An astonishing 86% of parents believe that better K–12 public schools would substantially improve children's lives. When asked for the most important solution to improve children's lives, improving and reforming education emerged as the top solution volunteered, with 30% of parents and 28% of youth identifying it as most important.
5. A Trust Gap in Leadership: Only 38% of kids and teens believe the government will prioritize policies that benefit youth in the coming years. A striking 69% of parents believe federal politicians and elected officials don't adequately reflect young people's needs, desires, and experiences, and 61% don't trust the federal government to make policies that benefit young people and families in the coming years, revealing a significant disconnect between families and policymakers.

"These findings reveal that despite our polarized political landscape, American families are unified in their concerns and solutions for our children," said James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media. "Parents and youth are sending a clear message to our leaders: prioritize education, mental health, and digital safety. The time for partisan politics is over when it comes to our kids' futures."

Despite skepticism about whether the government will prioritize youth issues, parents across party lines favor increased funding for programs that benefit children and families, showing remarkable unity on practical solutions despite our divided times.

For the complete report and additional resources for families and educators, visit our website.

About Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users worldwide and 1.4 million educators every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.