Since our class specifically discusses the overlapping
relationship between mass media and politics, I think it would be interesting
and relevant to take a look at the relationship between young adults and politics,
Specifically the study of political science and youth disengagement in politics.
Youth make up a large percentage of the population and as well as large
percentage of eligible voters, “While 18–29 year-olds account for nearly 22
percent of the voting-age population, they made up just 13 percent of the
voting electorate in 2018 – and that’s an improvement over previous years.” Past
and recent voter turnout and political involvement of young adults would also
be helpful in better understanding political disengagement of young adults as a
whole and ultimately helps to better understand the relationship between media
and politics. Furthermore, the voting population of the U.S is aging with fewer
young adults voting and becoming involved in politics. This is problematic as a
large percentage of U.S citizens are not voting, but also that many U.S citizens
are then underrepresented. This voting pattern is ultimately skewing politics
in the U.S, and if voter turnout in young adults does not improve, “the number
of people 65 and older who vote in midterm elections is likely to exceed that
of young adults by a 4 to 1 ratio by 2022.”
This study by the Washington Post (and attached below) also
mentions the vast difference of political and social beliefs of young adults in
comparison to their parents and grandparents. The beliefs of young adults are
generally more conservative in terms of government but more tolerant and open
in social views, views that do not translate to votes, “The study shows that
young adults hold beliefs quite distinct from those of their parents and
grandparents -- more conservative in many of their views of government, more
tolerant in many of their social values -- and yet are not expressing them at
the polls.” This ultimately creates a dangerous cycle that young adults do not
feel as though politics and representation pertain to them (since they do not vote,
and their voices are not heard) which keeps them interested in politics and
voting, Disaffected and relatively nonpartisan, the country's 45 million young
adults are a constituency-in-waiting -- if candidates could capture their
imagination."
Washington Post
Holbein, J. (2020, February
20). Why So Many Young People Don't Vote – And How to Change That. Frank Batten
School of Leadership and Public Policy | University of Virginia. Retrieved
April 1, 2022, from
https://batten.virginia.edu/about/news/why-so-many-young-people-dont-vote-and-how-change
Alexander, D. (2020, October
20). Why Young People Don't Vote, and Why 2020 Might be Different. The Hub.
Retrieved April 1, 2022, from
https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/10/20/mobilizing-youth-voters-scott-warren/
I think that the reason for younger generations not voting is because of the realization that our vote doesn't matter as much as older generations told us as we were growing up. While I do make sure to cast my vote in each election, I do understand why there is such low voter participation for this demographic. I think South Park does a great job of displaying how many in the age group feel in the episode where the kids are forced to vote between the Giant Douche and the Turd Sandwich. Not only are the options both not that great, but many politicians do not follow through at the end of the day. It seems like there is not much of an incentive to voting these days.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree with this! Every time I ask someone why they didn't vote they always say "My vote won't matter". I vote in every election however I can clearly see why people don't, there doesn't seem to be much change and many politicians promise thing that they never actually do. For instance, I'm still waiting for Biden to cancel students loans permanently. Also I liked your South Park analogy!
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