Over the years, teenagers have always shown less interest in politics than other groups of age and it’s becoming more and more concerning as their opinion are crucial for the future. In fact, according to a General Social Survey on Social Identity, 60% of people aged 15 to 30 say they are somewhat or very interested in politics, which is significantly lower than 68% of those aged 31 to 46, and 74% of people aged 47 and older.
At my school, I hear it all the time: “When I’m 18, I’ll vote for the one who has the coolest sign”
I guess that it’s a joke but it made me wonder, do teenagers care about politics, or do they just pretend until they’re old enough to vote? When I asked a classmate, he admitted, “Not really because it’s not something I’m interested in since it does not affect me a lot”
This response highlights the common feelings teenagers have. Generally speaking, teenagers do not pay attention to politics. Many factors, such as a lack of understanding, the perception of low impact on daily life, and distractions from social media apps can cause teens’ disinterest in politics. As a result, many believe it doesn’t change anything really if they pay more attention to it. Even one student declared, ” I’d rather spend my time watching memes and scrolling through TikTok.” However, I am here to tell you that it matters a lot.
Why does it matter? you may ask. Well being politically illiterate can lead to teens not voting which can result in a lack of influence on the future of our country and it is concerning considering the conditions we are in nowadays. Indeed, if younger generations don’t vote, older generations will take over and decide the future without their approval. On top of that, since they don’t care about politics, they can get influenced a lot by teachers, formal authority, and social media, which can lead to them getting manipulated by political propaganda, and biased beliefs.
To add to that, politics already impact teens’ lives, even if they think it doesn’t. Indeed, issues like social media laws and school policies directly affect them. For example, the potential TikTok ban in the U.S. and the recent cell phone restriction in Quebec show how political decisions affect their daily lives. If teens stay silent and don’t speak up now, others will continue making choices for them.
Teens can make a difference if they start caring early. Even small actions like staying informed or having conversations about the topic can have an impact. It is crucial for them to do so, as it can benefit them a lot. After all, this is what it means to be a citizen.
That said, what kind of future are you letting others decide for you?
