Why Young People Are Losing Interest in Politics (And Why It Matters)

Why Young People Are Losing Interest in Politics (And Why It Matters)

I’ve always loved politics—debates, news, all of it. Even though I don’t watch everything or remember every detail, I genuinely enjoy it. But debating? That’s another story. I’ve never been good at it. The moment someone throws a "gotcha" at me, my mind either goes blank, or I forget an important fact I needed to back up my point. That’s why I don’t debate. And honestly, I wish the high schools I attended had debate clubs. Maybe if I had that opportunity, I would have mastered the skill. But here I am, just watching from the sidelines, wondering why so many young people don’t even bother with politics anymore.

Why Are Young People Losing Interest in Politics?

1. The Distraction of Social Media

TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms have completely shifted how young people engage with the world. Instead of discussing policies, governance, or the future of our countries, people are obsessed with trends—learning the latest dances, following influencers who preach independence but lack wisdom, and consuming content that promotes superficial values. Social media has become a place where young men are encouraged to be weak, young women are encouraged to be overly hardened, and where critical thinking is slowly fading away. Instead of shaping a generation that questions, challenges, and changes the system, social media is raising a generation that is entertained but uninformed.

2. The Stigma Around Politics

Every time I mention that I might want to be a politician one day, people immediately assume I’ll become a liar, a fraud, or a dictator. Politics has become synonymous with corruption, deceit, and power-hungry leaders who care more about themselves than their people. So why would young people want to enter a space that seems rigged from the start? No one wants to be labeled as a crook before they’ve even begun.

3. Politics Doesn’t Feel Personal

Let’s be honest—most political discussions sound boring. They’re filled with complex terms, long speeches, and people in suits arguing over things that seem to have nothing to do with the average 19-year-old’s life. The youth care about jobs, money, their future, and social issues, but politics rarely speaks their language. So instead of engaging, they just disconnect.

4. It’s Just Not Cool Anymore

Back in the day, young people used to be at the front of revolutions, leading protests, demanding change. Today, most youth would rather go viral than go vote. Political involvement isn’t seen as exciting; it’s seen as stressful and irrelevant. And because of that, we are losing our power without even realizing it.

Why Youth Participation in Politics is Crucial

1. Because the Future Belongs to Us

Whether we like it or not, the decisions being made today will affect us for decades. If we don’t participate, older politicians will keep making policies that don’t reflect our needs. If we want a future that benefits us, we need to be part of shaping it.

2. Because If We Don’t Speak, Others Will Speak For Us

The people in power today won’t always have young people’s best interests at heart. If we don’t get involved, others will make decisions that impact us without our input. Then we’ll wake up one day complaining about laws and systems we never even tried to challenge or change.

3. Because Politics Shapes Everything

Whether it’s education, job opportunities, social issues, or even social media laws—politics touches everything. Ignoring it doesn’t make it disappear; it just means we’re allowing others to decide our fate.

Final Thoughts

I get it—politics feels messy, fake, and exhausting. But if we all check out, who’s going to fix the system? Who’s going to stand up for what’s right? We don’t have to be perfect debaters, and we don’t have to know every single political fact. But we do have to care. Because if we don’t, we’ll wake up one day in a world that we had the power to change—but didn’t.

What do you think? Do you feel like young people are disengaged from politics? Or do you see signs that things might be changing? Let’s talk about it.👇🏿

Disclaimer: 

I do not own any of these pictures displayed on this blog. It is only used for educational purposes.