Young ‘acted selfishly’ over Covid – 49% adults

ALMOST half of UK adults believe young people have acted selfishly during the coronavirus pandemic, research has suggested.

Some 49% of adults said they feel young people have been selfish by ignoring restrictions on their freedoms because of the lower risk to them. The research, by New Scientist magazine and the Policy Institute at King’s College London (KCL), found 31% believe most youngsters have been selfless in following rules.

There was little difference in views across the generations, with younger cohorts also more likely than not to think that young people have acted selfishly.

KCL’s Professor Bobby Duffy, who led the research, said all age groups have been “remarkably compliant” and perceptions of selfishness are driven by “fake stereotypes”.

For the study, Savanta ComRes surveyed 2,050 UK adults online between August 2 and 9.

The results suggest older people are overwhelmingly perceived to have suffered the most, but they are more likely than younger people to report having experienced no negative effects. Some 44% of respondents feel older people have suffered the most, despite the older generation being roughly twice as likely as younger respondents to say they have suffered no real effects on their lives. Just under half (47%) felt people aged 70 and above were most likely to have reported feeling lonely at the start of the first national lockdown in 2020.

Separate research from the Office for National Statistics suggests young people aged 16-24 were most likely to feel lonely at this time.

The research marks the publication of Generations, a book by Prof Duffy which explores whether when we are born determines our attitudes to money, sex, religion and politics.

He said: “Our perceptions of individual generations and relations between them are driven by fake stereotypes and conflict, fuelled by headlines anticipating coming ‘generational wars’ or selfish behaviour by old or young.

“The reality is that all age groups, including the young, have been remarkably compliant with extraordinary restrictions on their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic, mostly to protect older and vulnerable people. This has come at significant economic and social costs – but even here we have the wrong impression.

“We think it was older groups who were more likely to feel lonely during the lockdowns, but it was young people who suffered from that social isolation much more.”

Unvaccinated university students have been urged to get a Covid jab in freshers’ week to protect themselves and their peers against the virus.

The NHS’s top doctor has called on freshers to get the vaccine at pop-up clinics and walk-in centres set up by universities before their courses begin. The plea comes as thousands of students arrive at UK university campuses over the next few weeks.

Prof. Stephen Powis, national medical director, NHS England, said: “Starting university is a really exciting time and getting your Covid vaccine means you will be armed with maximum protection against the virus. It is fantastic to see the enthusiasm from young people with more than 3.4 million people aged between 18 and 24 already having their first jab. With many universities set to run pop-ups and walk-ins throughout the first weeks of term it has never been easier to get protected.”