Can social media create political interest and encourage political participation?
Over the last 12 months, COVID-19 and the global pandemic have forced changes in how we live, communicate, learn, and engage with the world. Lockdown and self-isolation have led to an increased reliance on technology to meet the demands of everyday life. Social media has been integral to how we communicate, as well as facilitating engagement with current affairs and participation in politics. Young people, already the largest group using social media, increasingly use platforms for political information (Marquart et al, 2020). However political inequality in the UK suggests young people are disengaged.
So, are young people actively rejecting political engagement, or are we missing something crucial about how they engage?
Less than half of 18–24-year-olds voted in the 2019 general election (Ipsos MORI, 2019). Young people are less likely to vote or even register, which is no surprise when the average age of councillors, candidates, and MP’s is over 50 (Parliament, House of Commons, 2021). Looking at the prevailing sea of largely middle-aged white men with political power, why would young people vote, when all signs indicate parliament isn’t a place for them? Young people feel alienated from the political system; they don’t see themselves represented in elected bodies and so have become disengaged from this system (Parliament, House of Commons, 2021).
However, political engagement is not simply about voting. Elections are a small part of the democratic process and focussing on them ignores the new and creative ways that young people are transforming democracy (Keating and Melis, 2017). Issues affecting younger generations are different from those of older voters. While political parties chase the votes of their largest demographics, issues important to young people fall further down the political agenda (Henn and Sloan, 2019). The graph here shows that climate change cost of living and social inequality are important issues to the younger generations, whereas older voters are typically concerned with ‘getting Brexit done’ and immigration.
These issues have not been at the forefront of recent government policies and so young people have found alternative, less traditional methods for engaging with issues important to them. Although young people are least likely to vote, they are not disengaged from political issues, they are simply participating using alternative means such as social media platforms.
Over the last year, social media has become a home for social movements, political campaigns and online activism, for example the Black Lives Matter Movement of 2020. Although the movement began in America, it became global with protests taking place across the UK (Maqbool, 2020). Social media has a huge part to play in engaging young people as it creates a space of discussion with few barriers in joining (Marquart et al, 2020). Those who have struggled historically to be heard in society can express views freely, allowing all to access the perspectives and opinions of those not necessarily presented by mainstream media. Personally, Instagram has been a safe space for me to explore my political identity. I’ve been empowered and inspired by race, LGBTQ+ and feminist activism online and enjoy following individuals sharing experiences and educating others on real-life political issues! The personal is always political and social media gives young people the means to engage with society in a familiar, accessible environment.
Social media as a source of news and education does have its negatives. Concerns about how young people use social media to get information and whether this creates ‘echo chambers’ where users are exposed to those with only similar views (Bishop, 2020). Research suggests young people’s political engagement on social media may be driven by their existing political interest (Keating and Melis, 2017) and a lack of trust in mainstream media combined with algorithms aligning information to users’ beliefs could further already divided views and lead to young people living in polarised and siloed ‘information worlds’ (Bishop, 2020). Fake news and fact-checking through social media platforms lead some to suggest SM can’t be a safe space for political participation. If social media is to develop as a form of news and information distribution, work is required on monitoring harmful content, hate speech and the spread of misinformation (Bishop, 2020).
So, can social media encourage young people to think critically, participate and engage in current affairs and social issues and overall participate in the background of politics?
YES.
I believe an alternative approach should be taken in encouraging political discussion and critical thinking in an environment enjoyed by young people. Young people need to relate to issues important to them to see the power in politics, and social media provides a space focussed on issues more relevant to this group. Young people may feel more engaged in an environment where they see others like themselves. Perhaps turnout is less important than whether young people are engaging with political issues at all. By suggesting there is no place for politics on social media this, young people are denied vital space to explore and develop interests concerning social issues. Social media needs work in ensuring the safety of those using it and perhaps part of educating young people politically is teaching them how to safely navigate information online. The bottom line is young people can and do care about political issues, they would rather engage through new forms of political participation as more traditional forms become increasingly outdated and irrelevant for contemporary society.
Bibliography
Bishop, K. (2020) Why are millennials and Gen Z turning to Instagram as a news source? The Guardian, 27 July. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jul/27/instagram-news-source-social-media (Accessed: 9 March 2021).
Henn, M. and Sloan, J. (2019) Another election, another disappointment: Young people vote left and are left behind at GE2019. UK Election Analysis 2019: Media, Voters and the Campaign. UK: The Centre for Comparative Politics and Media Research. Available at: http://www.electionanalysis.uk/ (Accessed: 9 March 2021).
Ipsos MORI (2019) How Britain Voted in the 2019 Election. UK: Ipsos MORI. Available at: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/how-britain-voted-2019-election (Accessed: 9 March 2021).
Keating, A., and Melis, G. (2017) Social media and youth political engagement: Preaching to the converted or providing a new voice for youth? The British Journal of Politics and International Relations. 19(4) pp. 877-894. DOI: 10.1177/1369148117718461.
Maqbool, A. (2020) Black Lives Matter: From social media post to global movement. BBC News, 10 July. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53273381 (Accessed 9 March 2021).
Marquart, F., Ohme, J. and Möller, J. (2020) Following Politicians on Social Media: Effects for Political Information, Peer Communication and Youth Engagement. Media and Communication. 8(2) pp. 197-207. DOI: 10.17645/mac.v8i2.2764.
Parliament. House of Commons (2021) Political disengagement in the UK: who is disengaged? (CPB-7501) London: House of Commons. Available at: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7501/ (Accessed: 9 March 2021).
Hi, Poppy! This was so interesting to read.
I agree with what you’re saying – young people are not politically disengaged, they are just finding their own way in an ever-changing political world. I find it so inspiring that young people are taking the matter into their own hands through social media, as many young people do not feel that parliament is a place where their voices are heard and adequately listened to. Therefore, doing what we do best, namely using social media, can therefore have significant benefits if used correctly and cautiously!
I think that using the school system and its curriculum more actively could teach young people more about the dangers of fake news and misinformation – which is becoming an increasingly significant threat to both our daily lives but also to our democratic institutions. Ultimately, I think it is down to governmental priorities in financing the institutions that teach young people about political engagement, such as through the school system. The school provides a great opportunity for young people to learn about political engagement, but I think there is room for great improvements as there are significant differences in the quality of citizenship education across the UK. Citizenship education is a good way to teach young people the significance of political engagement and could potentially be a person’s only source of political socialisation. Citizenship education can therefore greatly affect one’s level of political participation throughout one’s lifetime.
I find it interesting that you say conventional forms of political participation is becoming increasingly outdated. Do you think we have reached a time where we should turn away from voting as a form of political participation? I am really interested to hear your thoughts 🙂
Hi Johanne! Thank you for commenting! 🙂
I agree I think school plays a crucial role and without government funding/policies there will not be an adequate focus on teaching children the skills to politically engage and how to think critically to source information properly. Misinformation is extremely worrying, especially now when we rely on technology so heavily as a source of knowledge.
I studied citizenship education at school, and it influenced me choose A Level Politics, leading me into my Sociology degree. Without those lessons, I don’t know if I would have been so engaged so soon. However, it was not until A Level Politics that I understood how voting systems work and that there are others to choose from!
I saw an interesting statistic from a survey by Shout Out UK where students were asked if they would welcome a Government and Politics GCSE, 70% said yes. I think this says it all, young people want to learn and want to contribute but we are currently denying them the opportunity to crucially learn how to understand and navigate a confusing and disproportionate political system that currently ignores the interests of the youth of this country.
I don’t think voting is outdated but I do think without early political education I don’t understand how we expect young people to vote. If you honestly have no idea what the parties represent, or who you would like to represent in your local area or how the voting system works, then I wouldn’t vote myself. Instead, what I suggest is to encourage young people to become critical thinkers and challenge the world around them and the issues they face, which will then lead them to engage with politics more as a result. I don’t think 18-year-olds should be forced to vote if they don’t understand. Especially as our voting system encourages tactical voting, which people should also be aware of! Free, impartial, political education in open environments, welcoming critical thinking is the way forward!
Thank you for sharing some more of your thoughts!
I definitely share your frustration, and just like you, I am finding the statistic you mentioned highly fascinating and but also slightly worrying. Young people want to be politically engaged; they just need to be provided with the necessary tools. Tools they are now asking for, but not given!
It might be an over statement, but the political system does seem rigged, so that no matter what, white middle class men are favoured regardless. Restructuring the school system in such a way that it best creates political engagement and equality is so important for the survival of our democracy. Luckily, the statistic you mentioned means that the topic of young political engagement is getting recognised, and hopefully the future will bring new hope for young people’s political participation.