Are young people frozen out politically?

Given what young people are living through, it’s not surprising they are disillusioned about democracy. Do we need to give them more of a voice?

We spoke to Rachael Carroll, a LJMU student who co-organises topical debates for 16-17 year-olds, under the umbrella of the European Youth Parliament United Kingdom.

Why is it important right now to engage young people in current affairs?

-  With democracy, human rights and bodily autonomy constantly under extreme threat it is so vital that young people engage within politics. If you do not choose to participate then decisions that will impact your life will happen to you and not with you. A lot of young people are fighting for a chance to engage in democratic procedures, but it feels society is not ready to recognise the importance of youth voice.

Do you think 16 and17-year-olds would welcome the vote and if so, why?

I do believe that 16 and 17-year-olds would welcome the vote, yes.  As shown in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum and in the 2020 Senedd elections where young first-time voters participated in greater numbers than older first-time voters.

This reduction in voting age would allow young people to feel represented within Parliament. It is vital that politicians hear young voices and advocate for youth centred policies. Remember, lots of working 16-year-olds are already paying tax.

What is the European Youth Parliament (EYP) and why is it at LJMU?

- The European Youth Parliament is something I got involved with in sixth-form college because I was studying A – Level politics and LJMU has kindly offered to host the Regional Merseyside event. Critical thinking is truly at the core of EYP which means the young people involved are learning to weigh evidence and build arguments on complex topics. Students use a debate style procedure leading them to get involved in collective action with local councillors and voluntary groups. Media literacy is not easy with everyone overwhelmed 24 hours a day by information and disinformation online, so fora like this are so important.  

How important is it for society that we reignite young people’s interest in politics and current affairs, especially with Citizenship disappearing from schools?

Young people have only ever faced austerity and uncertainty. This means that now more than ever it is critical that young people have an interest in local, national, and global affairs. Citizenship is a privilege and a right. But in my schooling experience, I was failed, I had no knowledge of it, until I chose Politics A Level. It is a shame that central government will not encourage political education to be part of the standardised curriculum across all key stages.  

Would government and politicians treat young people differently, if they had the power of a vote, do you think?

Through my efforts to create a space for young people within democracy, I have experienced a lot of adultism. A large majority of the older generation believe young people are uneducated and lazy and I think it will take time for youth voice to be accepted. But yes, giving young people the right to vote will hopefully start to give them the respect they deserve.

How difficult is it for young people 16-21 to navigate the internet, given all the propaganda and un fact-checked material there?

Navigating the internet can be difficult but, I believe being able to distinguish between fake news and propaganda is a case-by-case basis and not just a young person’s issue. As demonstrated in the 2016 Brexit Referendum, Matthew Elliott the chief executive of Vote Leave, used emotive media creating a level of partisanship which was incited by false propaganda swaying the vote.

Education surrounding navigating the internet has certainly improved. However, with the rise of ‘incel culture’ this education is still so important, so people in general do not fall for the sorts of techniques which incite hatred. The only protection is education, so I believe we should be taught from an early age how to distinguish between fact and fiction.

How well is society – schools, government, parents – currently policing sources of info for young people?

The current policing of sources of information for young people needs major improvement. Central government needs to do way more to regulate the platforms that spread harmful content and allow underage access. This regulation can be done through fines and penalties.

Additionally, regarding home usage parents need to play an active role in what their children are viewing. Many homes do not have a child-lock on the internet and allow complete internet access for children from a young age.

Schools do a particularly good job in internet safety. However, the policing of sources for young people does take all three strands co-operating to reach complete online safety with the main policing starting from central government.  

Tell us about your experience of the EYP and how that is framing your view of public affairs and information wars?

I was originally introduced to the European Youth Parliament UK in 2022, and it was the first experience I had with a youth centred programme dedicating space for youth voice. The opportunity helped me to navigate information wars, see the complexity of public affairs on a variety of scales and helped me find a community of like-minded young people. Overall, EYP has shown me how important it is to have youth voice within democracy.

As for the EYP national organisers? What do they see as their contribution to youth voice?

Regional Trustee Dan Brown told us:

“One of the main ways in which European Youth Parliament is designed to help young people navigate the society of information which we find ourselves in is quite simple, but very effective: increasing delegate’s exposure to topics. From asylum seeking to toxic masculinity, spiking and the economic development of Africa, the breadth of the issues that we discuss helps to provide delegates not only with information about the topic, but also encourages them to hear what people have to say about them … especially topics that they haven’t thought much about.

“Every delegate at our events has learned something new, heard an opinion from a point of view that they are not familiar with, and have reflected on a particular presupposition that they have from the debates. Whilst it is hard to fully digest the information society that we live in, exposure is always a great way to start!”

The European Youth Parliament (Merseyside) is held at LJMU’s Redmonds Building on Monday, March 3 and featured sixth-form students from:

Neston High School, Carmel College, Birkenhead Sixth Form College, St John Plessington, Maricourt Catholic High School, Chesterfield High School and Ellesmere Port Catholic High School.

Main image: Rachael Carroll and colleagues at last year's EYP Merseyside event.