In reversal from prior generations, Millennials and Generation Z agree with more anti-Jewish tropes.
27 percent of Americans would find it at least somewhat acceptable for a close family member to support Hamas
New York, NY, February 29, 2024… The number of Americans who hold antisemitic beliefs increased to 24 percent, up from 20 percent in 2022, according to a survey conducted by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Center for Antisemitism Research. And in contrast to years prior in which older generations were more likely to harbor extensive antisemitic prejudice than younger generations, this survey found Millennials and Generation Z have surpassed older Americans and agree with more anti-Jewish tropes than any other generational cohort.
The survey of a representative sample of more than 4,000 U.S. adults with a margin of error of 1.5% asked the extent to which Americans agreed with 11 different statements about anti-Jewish tropes used to measure antisemitic attitudes since 1964, as well as statements about Israel. Millennials agree with the greatest number of anti-Jewish tropes on average, at 5.37. They’re followed by Gen Z at 5.01, Gen X at 4.19, and Baby Boomers at 3.06.
ADL’s survey also found that 27 percent of Americans would find it at least somewhat acceptable for a close family member to support Hamas, and 24 percent of Americans have a close friend or family member who dislike Jews. In total, more than 42 percent of Americans either have friends/family who dislike Jews or find it socially acceptable for a close family member to support Hamas.
“After decades of antisemitism mostly keeping to the fringes of society, it is shocking to see the number of Americans who openly hold antisemitic beliefs increase so significantly in recent years,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “And the sharp reversal, from older generations to younger generations being more likely to hold antisemitic beliefs, is a terrifying concern for our future. The need for better solutions is more urgent than ever – before this dangerous momentum keeps growing.”
“Those who indicate they have friends or family who support Hamas or dislike Jews are more likely to agree with a high number of anti-Jewish tropes than those who do not, confirming the power of social norms,” said Matt Williams, VP, ADL Center for Antisemitism Research. “The social acceptability of these beliefs is a critical factor in expressions of hostility. We need people to push these beliefs back inside.”
The study also reaffirmed that belief in conspiracy theories is one of the main predictive factors of antisemitic attitudes and beliefs. Researchers found that a third (33 percent) of respondents at least somewhat agree with the statement that Israeli operatives are manipulating U.S. national policy, and slightly less (30 percent) at least somewhat believe that Israel controls the media.
Finally, researchers found that nearly 90% of Americans believe Jews have the right to an independent country, and that the two-state solution is the most popular solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict across all generations.
This study was fielded between January 5-18, 2024, via Qualtrics, a leading electronic survey platform with a wide-ranging panel of respondents across demographic categories. A quota sampling strategy was applied, with respondents selected to ensure accurate representation across the key characteristics of gender, age, race, geographic region, ethnicity, household income, and education. A slight oversample of younger respondents (aged 18-26) was employed to maximize insights from this key generational cohort. The final sample yielded 4,143 respondents representative of the general U.S. population.
About ADL
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.