From a global pandemic, a planet in crisis, foreign conflict and school shootings—to name a few—it seems the trauma our generation has faced in just the last decade seems to never end.
Such issues are pertinent to the future of our country, yet the sometimes apathetic attitudes of youth towards the world of politics doesn’t reflect their importance.
But what causes this lack of political awareness? Perhaps it has to do with older politicians’ lack of direct outreach to youth, or the insufficient prioritization of helping newly eligible voters get to the polls.
It’s possible that politicians are slightly out of touch with our generation, as they experienced acutely different traumas. Maybe it’s the notion that if you can’t vote your voice doesn’t matter, or difficulty in understanding policies and issues themselves.
No matter the cause, it’s clear that the involvement of youth is not nearing the top of most politicians’ priority lists.
Many problems that will affect future generations, such as climate change, reliance on technology and the mental health epidemic, among others, have been discussed in politics to some degree, but the solutions seem to be more of quick fixes rather than long-term remedies.
Putting a bandaid over serious problems doesn’t mean these issues will be fully healed.
So what can be done?
The relationship between youth and government must be two-sided in order for one to benefit the other; politicians need to be more understanding of the issues our generation faces, and youth must become more informed about government, but perhaps more importantly, encouraged to become civically engaged.
Politicians, in combination with the government, can do a few things to connect the youth with politics and political processes.
Firstly, politicians can make an effort to talk directly to younger generations and speak out about youth-related issues, especially ones that will impact the future.
This year’s presidential election was unique in that candidates did do more of this through the use of current trends on social media apps, which noticeably interested more younger viewers in their campaigns.
While this was impactful, candidates could also utilize social media or similar platforms to discuss policies in a way that the youth can understand. Oftentimes the way candidates describe their platforms can be complicated, even more so for someone who isn’t as experienced with issues like economics or foreign affairs, but it’s still important for younger generations to be able to comprehend complex issues, particularly because their vote can have a major impact on elections.
In the same vein, there are a variety of ways in which youth can become more involved in politics and government processes. With youth’s significant dependence on social media as a source of information comes the danger of getting stuck in an echo chamber of radical polarization.
Thus, making sure to listen to all opinions—even those vastly different from your own—in a respectful manner leads to a more well-rounded and informed youth population. Taking the new knowledge acquired from constructive discussions, involving yourself in issues that impact yourself and your community through rallies and other forms of active participation can bring about positive change.
Lastly, if you are eligible, voting for/against policies and candidates is the most direct way to stay involved in politics.
This generation does not have to be defined by a case of apathy towards the nation’s political landscape—while it might be discouraging and draining at times, candidates and their policies do have a noticeable impact on current and future issues.