Different nations have endured different pandemic response plans from their governments. Globally, satisfaction towards handling of the pandemic varies. In a report by the Pew Research Center of 14 countries, most people think their country has handled the pandemic well. 

However, when we asked 388 people whether they were satisfied with their governments’ responses, results dramatically changed depending on the age of the respondent. 13.7% of 18-22-year-olds were completely satisfied with their government response and 27.5% completely unsatisfied.  23-29-year-olds showed similar trends as 18-22 age range. On the other end of the age scale, those over 50 were overwhelmingly satisfied: 47.7%. Only 3.3% were unsatisfied.

Both the age ranges of 18-22 and 23-29 represent young workers and students, usually targeted as the future of each of their own countries. Millions of workers of all ages suffered job losses due to the economic recession during COVID-19, but mostly young workers in precarious employment. College and university students were left home to finish the school year online. Young people were already dealing with precarious positions and low wages due to work retail, university fees and costs of living. 

Recent analysis by the Resolution Foundation and the Health Foundation has found that one-third of 18-24-year-olds have lost their job. Losing their jobs, being unable to afford rent and watching education be set aside have created a quite weak sense of satisfaction towards government responses in young people. Besides, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are still inflicting shocks on young people by disrupting their education, training and chances to socialize. Many universities started to offer distance education (DE) courses or blended modalities. Although there are advantages in distance learning (DL) – such as time and space flexibility, self-pace study – consequences have been widely reported: a sense of isolation, lack of motivation, lack of face-to-face socialization, internet connection problems and poor guidelines regarding how universities should operate. Despite this, young people are actively using their energy and willpower to speak out in the fight against this crisis.

Overall, the largest response to satisfaction with government measures against the pandemic crisis was “slightly satisfied” by both 18-22-year-olds (39.2%) and 23-29-year-olds (44.0%). Even if young people were aware of the emergency and dangerous situation and they agreed to the adoption of suitable restrictions within each own country, they have been hit hard and left out in the cold.