In the last few months, election information has been clogging everyone’s social media feeds. Regardless of whether or not the information presented was true, one thing is sure—it was everywhere. Information being fed through social media has become much more popular and accessible to citizens across the nation. Sources regarding the election gave potential voters something to think about during this stressful time, but what did those under the age of eighteen think of it?
Believe it or not, many underage people living in America had various approaches to this flood of election knowledge. Many social media accounts run by the young demographic of people used their platform to promote or denounce certain political ideologies, issues, and even presidential candidates. Young people are interested in the future of their country, and often express it through apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Twitter. With this widespread awareness on social media, many young people became inspired to get involved with politics in America and to educate themselves on the matters they were seeing on their social media feed every day.
Some teenagers took serious interest in the election by sharing their voice through satire. After the initial wave of election information passed through, this satire became present through videos on Tik Tok, memes on Twitter and Instagram, and on various other apps that allowed for creative freedom. They provided a good laugh about the chaotic world around us, and sometimes could even be educational on the election as well. Cameron Moore ‘23, a fellow GA student, shared his experience regarding social media during this time. Before the election, Moore reported that he used apps like Instagram and Snapchat in an attempt to encourage his older friends and family members to not only vote, but to also educate themselves before they do. He also used news sources to learn more about past elections to further deepen his knowledge on how this election could impact the country. While Moore made sure to use his platform to spread awareness and encourage research, he also enjoyed the satirical TikToks made about the election.
These past two elections have been very intense; while the negativity surrounding them could be a deterrent to engagement, the youth of this country chose to continue their involvement in the political world. With young people working to educate themselves now on these important matters, we can all hope to have a brighter and less politically divided future.