Is it possible for teens to be “not political” in today’s day and age? It feels like every news app and social media platform is constantly blasting us with information about a new federal policy, international crisis, or judicial decision with major repercussions for the country. My generation is coming of age in a world divided by politics. We can’t vote yet, which means we don’t have much control over what happens. So, do teens even care about politics these days?
I’ve been talking with my friends and classmates, and what I found is that teens do care — a lot. Belmont High School students in particular have a history of advocating for issues that are important to them. In 2017, leaders of the Black in Belmont club staged a walkout to protest a racist message spread on social media. Last year, students led a movement to bring compost to our public schools as a way to fight climate change. Today, students have responded to current events with clubs like “Students for Palestine,” “Climate Action Club,” and “Politics Club.”
When it comes to national or international issues, we’re being saturated with political news in a way that past generations were not. We don’t just consume the news, we’re encouraged to react to it and take a stand. And that’s where things get tricky.
What should you do when a friend reposts, likes, or follows something you don’t agree with? Is it an immediate unlike? An unfollow? Or could it even mean the end of a friendship IRL (in real life)?
Eleventh grader Eda Galvez told me, “I tend to ignore ideas shared on social media that I don’t agree with. I suppose it just feels easier and more respectful in a way to not say anything.”
Another teen, who didn’t want their name used because this topic can get so contentious, argued the opposite: “In the past, I have paid attention to what my friends post — if it’s someone I know from school regularly posting things I disagree with, I usually unfollow them.”
It often feels that you have to choose one end of the political spectrum or the other. Talking to my parents and other adults, I’ve learned that it used to be more acceptable to hold differing political views than your friends and neighbors. Living in Belmont, it’s not uncommon to find families who support Democratic policies on education or healthcare access but Republican policies on tax reform or the economy.
But teens these days tend to land on one side or the other, with little gray area in between.
One 11th grader (who also didn’t want to be named) told me, “I feel like everyone in school usually knows people’s stances on political issues. I wouldn’t completely avoid someone I knew who thought very differently than me, but I probably wouldn’t be close with them.”
While there isn’t one right way to respond to this topic, Gen Z certainly seems more politically polarized than previous generations. So, whether we enjoy discussing politics or not, it often feels like we have little choice but to be engaged — and choose a side.
Siri Iagnemma is a junior at Belmont High School and writes about Gen Z for The Belmont Voice.
