Why Teens Should Engage in Politics

By Madison Shanfeld

Photo by Josh Johnson/Unsplash

In light of the imminent election, politics has been making a breakthrough into everyday media. It bombards phones, laptops, and iPads with new updates. But some teens make the mistake of thinking that politics is only for adults. In reality, it is important for teens to know the modern issues present in American society. Although the current voting age in the United States is 18, tomorrow's voters should know today’s politics.

WHY AND WHY NOT

Most teenagers are not present at rallies and protests, or directly affected by the newest proposed bill or policy; however, keeping tabs on it is incredibly important since the actions and decisions made in American politics start a chain reaction that eventually leads to every citizen. The big decisions funnel down into daily life. For instance, a new tax policy could result in a familial financial change, or there could be a change in statewide education standards, modifying what they learn in school. If a teen doesn’t attempt to see the changes within their government, they would miss how their life may be affected now or in the future.

 Depending on their age, some teens may ask the question of why they need to get informed now if they can’t vote until age eighteen. To which the response is, becoming informed during the teen years helps build a solid foundation of beliefs that can make voting easier in the future. In more detail, the ability to understand the multitude of different political agendas such as gun laws, abortion, climate change, and healthcare, is integral to understanding the parties and candidates running. Thus, learning about the issues now and forming opinions makes picking a candidate that best aligns with their ideals easier.

Politics in the modern day is incredibly polarized, so smaller issues tend to be overlooked by teens, and bigger issues are too daunting to discuss. In addition, about 40% of

photo by Aleksei Morozov

teens feel under qualified to enter themselves into political discussion and a similar percentage of teens, 39%, also claim to feel uncomfortable using their voice to express their opinions out of a fear of peer judgment. Combined, teens are staying out of politics as a whole. However, CIRCLE, center for information and research on civic learning and engagement at Tufts University, found that teens who become active in politics and share their opinions find their voice to be more powerful in public settings. In short, It grows their confidence. 

HOW TO ENGAGE

Despite being too young to enter the voting booth, a teen’s voice still matters and it is still possible to get involved in the political arena. Using one’s voice in politics includes signing petitions, helping others register to vote, and discussing politics with friends or classmates. A teen could even start a political club or intern as part of a local campaign. One of the best ways for a teen to become empowered in their political knowledge is to create and absorb media. In fact, 82% of teens who watch, read, or create politically based media feel more confident in their grasp on the concept and 80% feel that their voice has gained power.

So how can teens get informed, or get introduced to the realm of politics without diving

off the deep end? The idea of entering the intricate maze of American politics can be seen as a daunting task. Andrew Yang, a former presidential candidate, claimed that “ you need to make politics young and alive” to appeal to a teen audience. He also acknowledges the lack of effort that politicians put into making their campaigns have that fun magic. However, as campaigns have moved into the modern era, it is common for politicians and their campaigns to have a presence on TikTok and Instagram; the Harris, Trump, Biden, and Kennedy campaigns being notable accounts. In addition, discussing politics with their friends can lead to a domino effect where more teens are engaging in discussion about new bills, levys, debates, and elections.

In the end, teen voices matter. Every voice matters. Becoming educated now means being protected later. So it is never too early to start valuing yourself and your opinions, and that means becoming engaged in politics.

Works Cited

Hoffman, Jordan, and Ravi Agrawal. “How TikTok Is Influencing the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.” Foreign Policy, 6 September 2024, https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/09/06/tiktok-us-election-harris-trump-politics/. Accessed 6 October 2024.

“Media-Making about Social and Political Issues Builds Confidence in Teens.” Circle at Tufts, 28 October 2021, https://circle.tufts.edu/latest- research/media-making-about-social-and-political-issues-builds-confidence-teens. Accessed 2 October 2024.

Rowen, Jenna. “Youth in Politics: Why it's Important and Why You Should Get Involved | YIP Institute.” Institute for Youth in Policy, 10 July 2024, https://yipinstitute.org/article/youth-in-politics-why-its-important-and-why-you-should-get-involved. Accessed 1 October 2024.

“TikTok in the 2024 US Presidential Race: Trending Campaign Strategy or Passing Trend?” German Marshall Fund, 19 September 2024, https://www.gmfus.org/news/tiktok-2024-us-presidential-race-trending-campaign-strategy-or-passing-trend. Accessed 2 October 2024.