A new report from the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shows that young people between the ages of 10 and 24 continue to prioritize safety as their most important value. This marks the second consecutive year that safety has ranked highest among a list of 14 priorities, which included options such as “being kind to others” and “being famous.”
The survey, conducted in August 2025 with 1,500 participants whose demographics closely reflect recent U.S. Census data on race and gender, also found that kindness, self-acceptance, and fun are top values for this age group. Fame and popularity were rated lower in importance.
“In a world full of uncertainty, young people are telling us exactly what they need — and it’s not fame or fortune,” said Yalda T. Uhls, founder and CEO of CSS, adjunct professor in UCLA’s psychology department and senior author of the study. “They want to feel safe, be kind, accept themselves and have fun. These aren’t just preferences — they’re survival strategies for a generation dealing with very real stress.”
The emphasis on safety reflects concerns about global conflict, school security issues, and digital harassment. The CSS’s research indicates that young people seek environments—both online and offline—that provide stability.
Kindness was ranked as the second most important value by survey respondents. Alisha Hines, CSS vice president of research and programs and co-author of the annual survey said: “Young people are choosing to lead with compassion at a moment when the world around them often doesn’t. We’ve learned that this generation values sincerity and kindness. They want the same energy reflected in the media they consume and in the real world and digital environments they navigate.”
Self-acceptance placed third among values identified by participants. This is consistent with other findings from CSS reports indicating that young people prefer stories about relatable characters who share similar experiences.
Fun was rated fourth overall but was especially significant among younger teens aged 10–13 years old as well as males across all age groups surveyed. Matt Puretz, CSS senior researcher and co-author of the study stated: “Laughter, play and shared joy are a key part of how young people cope with stress and build meaningful friendships — which are both essential to their development… We see this reflected in the media content they seek out — they often look for fun content when they’re stressed.”
The Center for Scholars & Storytellers operates within UCLA—a prominent public research institution known for its diverse academic programs supporting societal progress through knowledge creation and application. UCLA serves tens of thousands of students through its broad range of disciplines across undergraduate, graduate, professional degree programs and attracts a global network of scholars and partners. The university fosters inclusive environments through academic research and cultural initiatives, emphasizing excellence while promoting diversity.
For more information about this report or any other work from the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA visit their website.
