Adults lead polarization fatigue; youth more complacent, survey finds

Adults in Brazil are experiencing greater fatigue and discomfort with political polarization compared to younger generations, according to a new survey by BTG/Nexus. The research indicates a generational divide in how Brazilians perceive and cope with the country's increasingly radicalized political discourse.

The survey found that individuals aged 25 to 59 are most saturated with the political division. Within this group, 40% of those aged 25-40 reported feeling tired or uncomfortable with polarization, while 39% of those aged 41-59 expressed similar sentiments. A significant portion in both age brackets also disagreed with the notion that polarization significantly impacts political outcomes, suggesting a degree of resignation or detachment.

In contrast, younger Brazilians, aged 16 to 24, appear more complacent. This generation has grown up in an era dominated by social media and hyper-partisanship, leading them to view polarization as the 'natural state' of public debate rather than an anomaly. While 34% of this group still reported feeling tired or uncomfortable, a notable 29% felt comfortable with the situation, and 21% expressed indifference.

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The youth have entered political life at the height of the digital and hyper-partisan environment, treating polarization not as a draining anomaly, but as the natural state of public debate.

Marcelo Tokarski, CEO of Nexus, explained that the youth's perspective is shaped by their immersion in the digital and hyper-partisan environment from a young age. "They treat polarization not as a draining anomaly, but as the natural state of public debate," he stated. Conversely, he noted that middle-aged adults feel the direct cost of daily disputes, accumulating the highest levels of political fatigue in the country.

The survey interviewed 2,001 people by phone between August 7 and 9, with a margin of error of 2 percentage points and a 95% confidence interval. The findings highlight a significant difference in how age groups are coping with Brazil's intense political climate, with older demographics bearing the brunt of the exhaustion.

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In contrast, middle-aged groups feel the direct cost of daily disputes, accumulating the highest levels of political fatigue in the country.