Reasons Why College Students Lean Towards Socialism: What the "Anti-Big Corporation" Generation Z Says YES to and NO to

A recent survey targeting American college students revealed that 46% agree with the proposition that "socialist countries like Cuba and the former Soviet Union offer a better economic model than capitalist countries like the United States," while 39% disagree and 15% are undecided. When it comes to preferred residency, the results are closely matched with 40% favoring capitalism and 36% favoring socialism. This sentiment is influenced by rising living costs, future uncertainties, and a shift in the definition of "socialism" to emphasize enhanced redistribution. Concurrently, approval of capitalism is declining among the general adult population, with 66% of Democratic supporters favoring socialism. On social media, supporters who praise healthcare and education clash intensely with opponents who highlight issues like immigration, shortages, and control. There are also numerous calm posts pointing out the semantic drift of "socialism." These figures reflect not so much an ideological victory as a manifestation of the lived experience that reliance on the market alone is not reassuring. Unless real bottlenecks like tuition, rent, and healthcare costs are resolved, young people are likely to vote for increased public involvement.