Research: How different generations view social labels

According to respondents, the most common sources of scoping are dress and hairstyle (46%), origin (45%), and body shape or weight (also 45%). Young people are even more sensitive to this: members of Generation Z not only indicated these in higher proportions, but also age (40% vs. 31% in the total population) and gender role expectations (38% vs. 25%).

While they often feel like they are being boxed in, they often label themselves: half of 16-29 year olds admitted that they sometimes judge others based on their appearance. This duality is perhaps not surprising: young people’s lives are often about visibility, social media, and self-expression, where quick judgments are commonplace.

Half of Hungarian society feels that boxes limit self-expression to at least some extent. This is even more pronounced among young people: 63% of Gen Z reported that social expectations limit their ability to be themselves. This pressure is also stronger among women (52% vs. 45% of men).

The data also shows that switching between different social roles – such as student, employee, friend or family member – does not cause problems for most people. The problem arises when these roles clash: while most older people handle such situations well, only 30% of Generation Z members said that this is not a problem for them at all.

When asked whether social expectations will relax in the future, the majority are pessimistic: only 23% think that relaxation is expected, and 24% even believe that categorization expectations may even increase. Generation Z stands out somewhat here too – a third of them (34%) are confident that there will be freer space for self-expression in the future.

The research was conducted in connection with the joint campaign of the Hungarian McDonald’s and Dzsúdló. The presenter – who is himself a member of Generation Z and a role model for many young people – has built his career precisely by refusing to be boxed in. The campaign message and the research results together show: although social expectations are still strongly present, more and more people are looking for the path to free self-expression and a life without labels.

The research was conducted by Europion, a public opinion research company, on behalf of the Hungarian McDonald’s, and surveyed 1,400 people. The research is representative of Hungarian society in terms of gender, age, place of residence and educational level.