As our teens develop, they typically find themselves confronted with a number of normal issues. I have already written in my last post about their anxiety and its causes. But what about the relentless political news that we are experiencing? Are they attuned and aware of all that is going on in our divided political climate?
How could they not be? However, they don’t have the same way of thinking about it as most adults. One difficult reality is that teens are followed by a constant news cycle in social media – and that news portrays a world that is in constant turmoil. Issues like school safety, global conflict, economic instability, community violence, etc. impact their perspectives. Even for adults the world around us is complex and complicated, and teens are in the middle of those realities as well.
Teens frequently express their distrust toward politicians and institutions. They feel their leaders are disconnected from the issues they are most concerned about and more focused on power than solutions to our most serious societal problems. Some could assume teens are apathetic about it all, but in reality they feel a high degree of skepticism. This is because they feel that the issues they are most concerned about are not being addressed.
To them those issues are more personal and immediate to the world they live in. Issues like climate change, environmental responsibility, gun violence, school safety, mental health access, LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion, racial equity, social justice and rising costs of education are a significant priority. It is through these issues that teenagers imagine how their future may evolve and impact the details of their lives.
One of the most important developmental aspects of teen development is to make sure they have personal power. A significant part of that power is that they have a voice in what goes on in their lives. To the extent they do not feel they have a voice in politics, the more helpless and hopeless they will feel. They are very aware that they will bear the long-term consequences of the political decisions that are being made today. If they feel unheard and not valued, they will become quickly disengaged.
Most teens do believe that their generation can build a more inclusive, transparent and compassionate society. In order for them to have hope that this can be achieved, they want adults to listen, communicate honestly and take their concerns seriously. That relational integrity has impact to whether they want to be involved in advocacy and political participation.
Understanding how teens perceive the political climate is critical for their political involvement and perception of their citizenship. It is not just about their future election participation, but it is significant for their self-perception, mental health, civic sense of responsibility and social cohesion. If they feel ignored, they will be inclined to disconnect from their role in society.
Like anyone, teens are choosing what to trust and what is not trustworthy. If we want our teens to be politically active, we will need to work towards the kind of relational and political environment where they feel safe and empowered to be engaged in our political world.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
