In a 2011 book, researcher Christian Smith concludes that American young adults (aged 18-23) are becoming less involved in politics and in trying to change the world for the better. Smith cites six different types of political involvement among young adults:

• The politically apathetic—27 percent
• The politically uninformed—13 percent
• The politically distrustful—19 percent
• The politically disempowered—10 percent
• The marginally political—27 percent
• The politically involved—4 percent

Smith concludes:

Most emerging young adults in America have extremely modest hopes, if any, that they can change society or the world for the better, whether by volunteering or anything else …. It is not that [they] are … "me first" social climbers …. They simply think of themselves as "realistic" about the likely influence they might have on society and the world around them …. They often think investing in public life is not their responsibility, but rather [the responsibility] of wealthier, more famous, and more powerful people. And so most steer clear of civic participation, public engagement, and political life.