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.

Why Did You Wait So Long to Have Kids? Now Look at Me!

Why Did You Wait So Long to Have Kids? Now Look at Me!

Okay, so let’s talk about it. Parents having kids late. And by late, I mean late-late—like thirties, late thirties, forties, even fifties. Like, bro… what were you waiting for? What was the hold-up? A sign from heaven? A global event? Because I need answers.

Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying older parents are bad or anything, but I am saying they don’t always realize how their timing affects not just them but us, their children. And I’m speaking from experience because, well, my dad had me at 40, and my mom was 24. Not a crazy gap, I know, but the real issue? My parents are currently at an age where their peers are chilling, enjoying life, with grown kids in university or even done with school, some already married with their own families. Meanwhile, my parents? They still have young kids to raise—because after me, my brother came six years later, and then my sister five years after that. And guess who’s stuck in the middle of it all? Me.

The Unpaid, Unappreciated Second Parent

Look, I’m 19. Fresh out of high school. Job-hunting. Figuring life out. Trying to breathe. But instead, I feel like I’ve been recruited—not as a daughter, but as some unpaid second-in-command. I don’t cook much, sure, but I do everything else. I clean. I check on them. I break up fights. I fold their clothes. I remind them to shower and brush their teeth. I help with homework. I make sure they eat. And if I ever dare say “no” or refuse to do something? Ha! Suddenly, I’m the villain. My siblings snitch on me, and now I’m selfish, rude, and a dictator. Excuse me? How am I selfish for just wanting a break?

And don’t even get me started on how my parents see it. If I ever try to explain how I feel—how overwhelming it is to carry all this responsibility at 19—they won’t understand. Instead, they’ll take it as me being ungrateful. Because, at the end of the day, this house, this money, this everything—it’s for us, right? So, in their eyes, my complaints aren’t valid. But man, it’s a lot.

The Silent Struggle

I just want to breathe. I want a job, not just for the money, but for escape. For freedom. So I don’t have to constantly be in the middle of this cycle of responsibility and guilt. So I can have a life outside of playing referee, babysitter, and homework helper. Because right now, it’s unfair.

And I know what some people might say—"But they’re your siblings, you should help out." And yeah, I get that. But there’s a difference between helping out and basically becoming the default second parent just because I’m the oldest and happen to be home. Like, why am I the one carrying all this weight?

And it all circles back to my original point—why didn’t y’all just have kids earlier? If they had, we’d all be grown now helping each other by doing some chores in the house 😡. My parents would be resting, not still raising little ones while approaching retirement. But hey, what can I do? Nothing. I just have to sit in silence, wait for my turn to leave, and hope I don’t fall into the same cycle when I have kids one day.

Final Thoughts

If you’re reading this and you’re thinking about having kids way later in life, just think about what it means—not just for you, but for your future kids. Because someone, somewhere, might end up writing a blog post like this, wondering why you waited so long and why they had to carry so much responsibility when they didn’t ask for it.

Until then, I’ll just keep praying for my exit plan.

Disclaimer:

I do not own any of this pictures 🖼️