Americans maintain a strong belief in their individual power to effect change. Despite economic, political, and other social challenges facing Americans today, many citizens are actively seeking to resolve these issues. A new survey released by Walden University and Harris Interactive shows that “more than nine in 10 (92%) of Americans have taken action to engage in positive social change in the past year and that more than three-fourths (77%) say that it is important to them personally to be involved in social change.”

The Social Change Impact Report cites education as the most important issue to Americans (40%), followed by health issues (35%) and poverty issues (33%). According to the report, education will continue to lead social change issues, with most adults believing that schools will have the same or larger role in social change in the future.

The report further illustrates the power of digital technology to encourage individual participation in positive social change faster and more frequently than ever before; in fact, individuals and digital technology are the vehicles for implementing change. According to the report, “Nine in 10 adults (88%) agree that digital technology can turn interest in a cause into a movement more quickly than anything else” and “four in five adults (81%) agree that digital technology has created a fundamental shift in how social change occurs.”

While all generations are taking action to enact social change, the report reveals that Baby Boomers (age 47-65) and Matures (age 66+) are the most involved and are engaging at the highest levels. In the past 12 months, 99% of Baby Boomers participated in activities driving social change, with 93% of Matures, 89% of Generation X (age 35-46), and 90% of Generation Y (age 18-34) engaging as well.

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Americans Take Action for Social Good infographic

Social Change and Education infographic

 Social Change and Technology infographic