Our voices need to be heard
Young people are politically charged and engaged with political affairs more than ever before. Most of our recent societal concerns, such as the “me too” movement, “Black Lives Matter” have been spearheaded by driven young enthusiasts with a desire to encourage massive change and as fast as possible. However it can be argued that when it comes to the act of voting many young people may feel disenfranchised, ignorant or simply uneducated on basic ideas: where they simply do not know how to access the right people and sources to vote due to the lack of education (in politics). But one only needs to look at the way young people use social media, and how they resort to expressing their concerns and beliefs through social media channels. Which is why we see many young people actively taking part in protests, which may have been organised through social media platforms. Young people understand the impact they can make.
Figure 1: 2019 general election voter turnout (British Election study, 2021)
Figure one above illustrates that young people are less likely to vote compared to their elder counterparts overall; as age range rises, so does the apparent voter turn-out. However, there have been some stark, notable changes in voter turnout over the 4 years (2015-2019). Where the younger age group 18-24 year olds’ act of vote has consistently increased. Whereas the 55+ age groups have dipped slightly in 2019.
It is rather intriguing when one analyses the activism of young people based on voting. Seeing the increase in voter turn-out over the years may well be telling. Where young people are becoming more aware of their collective power (again I would argue due to social media channels and not so much through education and knowing the ins and outs of voting)
It seems young people’s political engagement can be judged from the apparent data based on their habits in voting. Perhaps it serves as a reliable indicator, when analysts look at such data: the simple act of voting, to judge activism and political engagement but it can never be conclusive. Also fascinating to note that the youngest age bracket seem more politically motivated than the next in line 25-34 year olds, which suggests younger people may be more impassioned in their concerns, optimistic and driven (as stated earlier)
Figure 2: voting intention by age (lord Ashcroft polls, 12th dec 2019, sample size 13,128- all voting), (Election analysis)
The 2019 general election appeared to have a dramatic rise of young voters, rising to the highest level for a quarter of a century. Labour party received most votes from the younger age group whilst the conservative party received most votes from the older age group. This is rather intriguing -the labour party, which is usually associated with the left, liberal side is far more appealing to young people. Whereas conservatives, on the right (with their traditional, conservative ideals) may not be very appealing. This makes one wonder about the class divide and rising trends in poverty and the cost of living crisis’, particularly for young people, who are feeling the brunt of the class divide. And the concern that older traditionalists are in it for themselves, maintaining the hierarchical structures. What’s more, seeing that support for labour is highest amongst the youngest age groups 18-34 with the data looking consistent throughout; and support for the Labour Party lowering as the age rises.
One can only wonder what the data may look like if voting became open to people as young as 16. It seems an interest in politics has always been around. Young people do want to express themselves unlike the mainstream narrative often conjured up by government and elder members of the community would like us to believe, that younger people are not mature or informed enough to vote or initiate change. I would argue that with dysfunctional and unreliable governance, young people can be most zealous and forthright when it comes to enacting change.
Young people ‘apathetic’ or even ‘alienated’ (Norris, 2002). Young people are notoriously described as apathetic and probably deemed immature and clueless, but it can be argued that more than anything alienation is a driving factor. Feeling excluded and out of place in a room of middle aged white males shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Education and politics
The figure above showing less participation (voter turnout) off young people may suggest there is lack of political education for young adults who have not participated. With this being said, Political and citizenship education reduces inequality and high chances of voting in the future. Schools should prioritise political learning activities for lower backgrounds as it will have a positive effect for the future of young adults.
Education has been one of the main contributors to social reproduction of social class and employment, however education can also help reduce these inequalities. In England disadvantaged students reported lower levels of participation in learning political engagement due to, schools with lower status, offer fewer political learning opportunities.
If many more young people participated in voting, they can and should rise to the challenge. If they do not vote there will be a lack of focus on, Tuition fees, affordable housing, living wage, jobs, environmentalism, police reform and a plethora of so many more societal concerns. And a higher prioritisation on ‘grey issues’, such as Triple lock pensions, health & social care, low capital gains tax, immigration concerns, law, and order.
Social media and politics
In the current years young people across Europe have been involved in various protests such as the climate strikes, Occupy movement (inequality), #MeToo and ,Black Lives Matter, which was the most widespread protest.
Social media is a great platform to spread awareness of past or current issues happening around the world, which many young people interact through. The Black Lives Matter movement became a historical peaceful and diverse protest , it was a trending political movement created online and offline. millions of people around the world gathered together in protest against the death of George Floyd. Majority of the protesters were young people raising awareness of the injustice and inferior treatment of black people. Everyone demanded for changes to be made. Shortly after the protest all three police involved in the murder were charged and imprisoned.
shortly after the BLM protests many changes were made in America. City councillors vowed to reform police departments, statues have toppled, and corporations have promised greater diversity and inclusivity Ankel, S.(2020). The Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, also pledged to move funding from the city’s police department toward youth and social services Ankel, S.( 2020).
George Floyd’s daughter ‘my daddy changed the world’
Personally living in this generation I believe I have learnt more about ongoing political news through social media. Social media has helped me learn more about voting and the difference between each political parties etc. it has helped me kept up to date with current worldly affairs.
Shortly after the Black Lives Matter movement there was a huge protest for Palestine in London, may 2021 after the Israeli military attacked the masjid Al-Aqsa, at least 100,00 people gathered together in solidarity for Palestine, many of those participating were young adults.
Around the world there are lots of young activist fighting for their rights, for example Ahed Tamimi a young vocal Palestinian activist who stood against the Israeli defence occupation, she was hailed a hero for her country, she stated she would rather die fighting for her cause and belief than a natural death.
Young people are most passionate when it comes to human rights concerns and violations. They are most zealous when there are security-related concerns or foreign affairs. Often taking to the streets to channel their anger and frustrations. But if correctly mobilised and channelled through traditional channels and means, such as participating in voting and rallying amongst influential people, so much more could be achieved. When one considers the activism of young people such as Malala Yousufzai and Greta Thunberg: Two young women who actively participate in global spaces such as Cop26 and other places of influence, then the many disenfranchised young people who lack proper guidance would be able to cause ripples and wave.
Bibliography
British Election Analysis. (2021) ‘Age and voting behaviour at the 2019 General Election’ [online] https://www.britishelectionstudy.com/bes-findings/age-and-voting-behaviour-at-the-2019-general-election/#.ZBMHM3bP3IX
Henn, M. and Sloam, J. (2019) Election Analysis ‘Another election, another disappointment: Young people vote left and are left behind at GE2019’ [online] https://www.electionanalysis.uk/uk-election-analysis-2019/section-2-voters-polls-and-results/another-election-another-disappointment-young-people-vote-left-and-are-left-behind-at-ge2019/
Ankel, S.(2020) 30 days that shook America: Since the death of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement has already changed the country [online] https://www.businessinsider.com/13-concrete-changes-sparked-by-george-floyd-protests-so-far-2020-6?r=US&IR=T