Advertising the World of Politics to Teens Through Social Media

Advertising the World of Politics to Teens Through Social Media 

By: Peyton Fern - YMCA Arlington-Washington-Lee  

Social media comes in several different forms and topics. Ranging for all ages, it’s a new age of communicating with others. One of the many, many topics social media carries is, of course, politics and government. Plus, the main users of social media are in fact, teenagers. According to a Pew Research Study, 95% of teens own/have access to a smartphone, and 45% say they are on the Internet on a constant basis. So, there is a clear consistency of what the ‘hip teens are doing these days.’ 

Now, for the government’s influence in these teenager’s lives, they now have a very accessible outlet to help the next generation find a spot in their government. And it comes in many forms too. An example includes blogging, a topic introduced by Julianne K. Viola, a Doctoral Candidate from the World Economic Forum. Viola researched how blogging about politics in schools gives teenagers too young to vote a chance to still have their voice heard. With her research, Viola found out that yes, teenagers are not just glued to their phones 24/7, but they just ‘aren’t allowed’ to participate. With quotes ranging from “the younger you are, the less respect you get for your opinions and engagement” and “stay out of it [politics] until you can vote”. Yet with these teenagers using social media to appeal to others about politics, like 14 year old Stephen did, he said that “‘it feels good to be able to get my own point of view out there’ but that, in order to feel heard, he would ‘need supporters and people who understand my view to support me.’” 

Now for opinions gotten from here at the 72nd Annual YMCA Virginia MGA, there were other methods of social media introduced. Youth Governor Tommy Dannenfelser said “...my phone at least gives me really great access to the news as it’s happening...I have a few news apps on my phone...besides Snapchat and Instagram...I have the New York Times, Washington Post...when it comes down to balancing your social media...it can become really informative.” Dannenfelser introduced the topic of old-fashioned media like newspapers adapting to the new social media movement. Another student/reporter, Dylan Zito from the Arlington Career Center, suggested the use of apps like Instagram and Snapchat to poll teens about certain subjects. This helps to bring the usage of voting on other, smaller issues; compared to voting on government policy/issues. “I feel like most teenagers are on their phone all the time on social media, so to appeal to teenagers...you can use polling to gather their [general] opinions.”  

 

References 

• Viola, Julianne K., and Julia University of Oxford. “Want to Engage Teenagers in Politics? How about Blogging.” World Economic Forum, 2018, www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/11/political-blogs-by-teenagers-promote-tolerance-participation-and-public-debate/. 
• 
  
• Anderson, Monica, and Jingjing Jiang. “Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018.” Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, 30 Nov. 2018, www.pewinternet.org/2018/05/31/teens-social-media-technology-2018/.