Should Teenagers Care about Politics?
By Kayleigh MacLeod
10/20/26
In the politically divided world that we live in today, it is unnatural to not be associated with a specific “side”. Red or blue, Democrat or Republican, Liberal or Conservative, and most importantly: right or wrong. From news and social media, individuals of wide-ranging ages consume vast amounts of political media every day, making this a daily ritual to scroll past many highly controversial and sensationalized posts that we deem to be “normal”. For teenagers especially, we feel almost obligated to choose a side and support who we think is right. But how can we be expected to understand the violence and division in our country when we are still figuring out the world for ourselves?
The question is not just: should teenagers care about politics, but more so if we are actually being encouraged to understand politics and not just defend a side based on other opinions. Although many teenagers are not quite old enough to vote yet, that does not exempt them from their decisions and responses to legislation and policies. A study by Jenna Rowen-Delson supports this claim by stating that “Waiting until to care for politics until you are 18 means a lack of understanding, a lack of knowledge, a subsequent lack of ability to make political choices that are important to you.” This statement is as close to the truth as it gets. Politics is not just an argument between two parties, it is something that affects individuals of all ages living in our nation, whether we like it or not.
This nationwide issue is deeply rooted within the classrooms. Educating children from a young age to be strong advocates for what they believe can influence politics as a whole to take the perspectives and concerns of the younger generation into consideration. A study by Czaria Cole Valentine shows that “When civic education is introduced in the classroom, the youth are shown skills they need to get involved in their communities.” Civic education gives teenagers the opportunity to understand how the government functions, how policies overall influence their individual lives, and how they can make their voices heard. Without this, the youth of our country is left with no political opinions besides their peers and the social media they consume. Our democracy will prosper when the youth learn more about their government and how they can respond to it without violence.
Ultimately, I believe that teenagers should care more and overall pay closer attention to politics and issues going on around us. Being a teenager does not automatically silence our concerns, our opinions and perspectives are not any less important than those of adults. However, caring deeply about politics should mean more than arguing with others and reposting political posts on social media. It should mean taking the time to research different perspectives and standpoints, ask questions, and form our own educated opinions. Schools have a responsibility to provide teenagers with the knowledge they need to become informed American citizens. We are the future of this nation, and the decisions being made today are shaping the world we, and our children, will grow up in. Instead of pressuring teenagers to take a side, we should encourage them to listen to others and stand up for what they believe in. The goal should not be to raise a generation that knows how to argue about politics, but one that understands how to make a difference.
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