US Study Finds Most Young People Oppose Antisemitism But Struggle to Identify It

A recent study conducted in the United States by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the organization Boundless surveyed approximately 7,500 Americans aged 18 to 44. The research, which took place from July 9-17, 2026, aimed to understand how different messages affect the identification and reporting of antisemitic content. Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of six different messages or no message at all, before being asked to evaluate examples of classic and contemporary antisemitic posts, some with political leanings and others without.

The findings revealed a significant challenge among young people in recognizing antisemitism, even in its overt forms. Among those who did not receive any guiding messages, 22% to 29% failed to identify classic antisemitic posts as such. This figure rose to 32% to 37% when participants were shown contemporary posts using language related to Israel and Zionism, indicating a particular difficulty in identifying antisemitism when it intersects with these topics.

While both Millennials and Gen Z participants showed varying degrees of awareness, the study noted generational differences. Millennials demonstrated a slightly higher initial ability to identify hostile posts compared to Gen Z. However, within Gen Z, those who did successfully identify antisemitic content showed a greater willingness to report it, with 77% reporting such content compared to 68% of Millennials.

Based on these results, the ADL and Boundless recommend focusing educational efforts on explaining modern forms of antisemitism, particularly those embedded in discussions about Israel and Zionism. They also advise continuing to promote messages that highlight societal opposition to hate and tailoring tools to different audiences. A key recommendation is to bridge the gap between the ability to recognize antisemitism and the willingness to act against it.