We all have "that Facebook friend"

After reading the assigned articles, I kept repeating something in my mind that, I had read in the abstract of the Article: Social media and youth political engagement: Preaching to the converted or providing a new voice for youth? The phrase said the "[the] principal driver of online political engagement is political interest." Which means that, the only people who are using social media for politics, are the political minds.

This conclusion is not a surprise for anyone that is on Facebook these days. We all have that "friend" that can and will not stop posting political pictures,videos, and yes memes. What the study found, is what most people have experienced firsthand. If you are not politically active, your 7th grade classmates impassioned rant on the 2nd amendment, is not likely to stir your interest. On the contrary, it is likely to make you block or unfollow them. Which is the opposite of any social network or political action.

However, a small positive can be found from the study, is that the "political person" on your social media will likely find others in their network of "friends." Which does help serve as an organizing tool. Evidence of this can be seen from Tunisia during the Arab spring, to the organization of a coordinated, global student walkout in 2019. The writer of this blog can attest to this because,the writer of this blog is indeed "The political person" on many unfortunate souls Facebook.

In my small experience of posting about local elections, I have been contacted by middle school friends interested in local issues. Older relatives, giving advice on policy that was neither asked for, or honestly appreciated. Yet I have also had the unique pleasure of being contacted by an old classmate, that is involved in local politics as well, creating an alliance of two groups of people. So while the idea of social media being binary good or bad, is not really answerable.

It is for better and for worse, a tool used to contact, connect, and create communication. Whether people choose to lock in for that connection and communication is up to the individual. Which in nations, states, regions and towns where voting turn out is decreasing, that can be for the worse.