Too young to vote but not too young to help in nation-building

With the upcoming elections in May, there has been a significant increase in the debate surrounding who our next president will be. As a student during this period, I am becoming increasingly concerned about our future.

When it comes to politics, for us who are not yet of voting age, it has become increasingly pessimistic and grim as voters seem to still choose their candidates based on popularity, rather than their plans for the country should they win. However, being under 18 years old does not mean we cannot engage in political discussions and advocacy that can change our lives. With the president having to sit in office for the next six years, their governance will definitely impact the whole country, regardless of age or socioeconomic status. Today’s youth have been given a large variety of platforms to express themselves and influence others, so we must take this opportunity to participate and let our voices be heard. Here are some ways we can all be involved:

Discussing politics with family and friends Social media tends to limit people’s exposure to diverse perspectives and opinions since algorithms favor forming groups with similar ideals and narratives. This is called an echo chamber. This is extremely harmful because, in this environment, people will only encounter information and opinions that reinforce their own.

Try talking to your relatives and friends in a supportive and friendly way. Most of the time, there is a tendency to be hostile toward other people who do not agree with you, but this only further pushes them back into their echo chamber where they feel most comfortable. Do not block or remove people who disagree with you from your account. Unless they are causing you any harm, keeping people who have opposing views from you can help them realize if they have been reading any misinformation or are stuck in an echo chamber. Find common ground. When they see that they can relate to some of your opinions and views, they are more likely to listen. It is when you can find something you both agree on that you can challenge them. Not in a rude way, but in a polite and intelligent way. Do not act on your emotions, but facts.

Sharing reliable sources of news and informationTo break the echo chamber, we need to constantly post and share news and information. When sharing sources of information and news on various social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, ensure your sources are reliable, always check, and read the entire article instead of mindlessly sharing it. When looking at newspaper articles or any sort of information online, it is important to check if the source is named and referenced, and if necessary conduct further research to ensure accuracy and credibility. The author and the publication should be a trusted expert on the subject or topic. The information that you are looking at must be updated and current.

Whoever will win the upcoming elections on May 9 will definitely have an impact on all of us, voters or not. As a generation who spends a lot of our time online, we are in a position where we can educate voters, help identify misinformation, and spread awareness on social issues based on facts instead of fake news. Therefore, it is important that we are involved as it is our future, too.

Kimi Nicole Gaw, British School Manila