Critical Analysis of is Voting for Young People, Martin Wattenberg

Introduction

In his book, Is Voting for Young People?, Martin Wattenberg highlights the concerning disengagement of millennials in the United States from politics. Wattenberg arrives at this conclusion by analyzing surveys and polls, identifying three significant causes: the decline in newspaper readership, TV viewership, and voter turnout. He emphasizes the issue of why so many young people in America choose not to vote. According to the Census Bureau’s 2010 survey data, only twenty-four percent of United States citizens under the age of thirty reported voting. Wattenberg argues that media is a major channel through which people receive political messages (Wattenberg, 2012).

The Role of Media

Today, young people are primarily engaged with smartphones and social media, which have become alternative sources of information, overshadowing newspapers and TV programs. Wattenberg claims that the decrease in newspaper readership and TV audiences are key reasons for young people's political apathy, leading them to abstain from voting. In my view, even though political messages can be shared on social media, young people tend to avoid them. I agree with Wattenberg's assertion that young adults have the potential to learn a vast amount about politics from news websites, but few choose to do so.

While newspapers and TV are platforms that provide a variety of messages, political news is reported daily at specific times. The internet, however, offers an infinite amount of information that competes with political news. Young people can easily choose information that appeals to them and ignore the "boring" and "tedious" aspects of politics. Media plays a crucial role in addressing the issue of political apathy among young people. As mentioned, social media has supplanted newspapers and TV programs as the primary source of information for the new generation. Wattenberg states that regardless of one's level of education, reading a daily newspaper and watching TV news are the main ways people gain knowledge about the political world (Wattenberg, 2012).

Adapting Political Messaging

However, I believe it is nearly impossible to ask people to abandon their smartphones in favor of newspapers or TV today. To compete with the vast amount of information available online, political content must be "fun" and "engaging" to attract audiences. Rather than presenting political news in long paragraphs, it should be more creative in its presentation. For example, I often watch YouTube videos that use visual effects or animation to explain political topics when I find them difficult to understand from text alone. Although some may find political advertisements annoying when they interrupt TV shows or videos, we cannot deny their effectiveness in conveying information quickly to an audience. With today's technological advancements, there are more opportunities to promote politics than ever before.

Influence of Older Generations

In addition to Wattenberg's claims about media, I believe the political apathy of young people is also influenced by the older generation. In Hong Kong, for instance, there was a significant democratic protest led by young people in 2014, known as the Umbrella Movement, advocating for universal suffrage. I found it inspiring to see adolescents in Hong Kong actively participating in politics. The new generation will eventually assume control of society, and politics drives everything in a country, making it important for young people to care about society while they are still young. However, as a protester, I encountered many negative comments from the older generation, discouraging us from participating in politics. They often claimed that participating in protests at our age was rebellious, that students should focus on academics rather than politics, and that we could never change or improve policies regardless of our actions. In extreme cases, some of my friends were grounded by their parents to prevent them from joining protests.

The Importance of Political Education

Wattenberg argues that young people cannot become engaged in political events without a basic understanding of the political world, and I agree with this statement. As a participant in the Umbrella Movement, I observed that most protesters were students who had studied Hong Kong history and liberal studies. Additionally, reading newspaper articles was part of the school curriculum, requiring us to read online newspapers at least three times a week. Whether we liked it or not, the school mandated this practice. I do not view this as a violation of individual rights but rather as an essential part of education.

Compulsory Voting

Wattenberg discusses compulsory voting, which I support. One reason young people are politically apathetic is their uncertainty about how and where to begin participating in political events. According to the Pew Voting Frequency Survey, sixty-two percent of unregistered citizens reported not being informed about registration, and six percent did not even know how to register. Registration poses another barrier for young people wishing to vote. For young adults, the term "politics" often evokes thoughts of "boredom," "annoyance," and "irrelevance." Some believe their votes lack value, which diminishes their motivation to learn how to register and complete the registration process. If young people could bypass registration and be required to vote once they turn 18, it could effectively engage them in politics. Over the long term, compulsory voting could become a social norm in the United States, changing perceptions so that people view voting as a responsibility rather than an obligation. Therefore, I agree with Wattenberg's assertion that "sometimes it is best to force people to do what is good for them, even if it is construed as a violation of individual rights" (Wattenberg, 2012).

Conclusion

In conclusion, I agree with and support Martin Wattenberg’s claims in his book. I believe the issues he identifies are not limited to the United States but are prevalent worldwide. A country is a community formed by a large group of people, and everyone and every problem is interconnected. Young people should engage in politics as soon as possible, as it may be too late to address political issues when they eventually recognize their interests and face social problems in adulthood.

References:

• Wattenberg, M. P. (2012). Is Voting for Young People? Pearson Education.
• Pew Research Center. (n.d.). Pew Voting Frequency Survey. Retrieved from [URL]