How Politically Empowered Do Young People Feel? Findings from Participatory Workshops

Many young people feel that they are not represented in the media or in politics and doubt their own ability to make a difference, as studies have shown (e.g., the 2022 Listen to Us! survey and the 2025 survey conducted as part of the YoungUP! project). At the same time, a great deal is expected of them. But how do young people themselves experience and assess their own political agency? In a recent project conducted as part of the #UseTheNews initiative, high school students explored the barriers to and enabling factors of political participation- while also developing their own understanding of political self-efficacy.

Political agency does not begin with voting in an election or joining a political party. It starts much earlier: in a social media feed, in the classroom, in conversations with friends, and with the question of whether one’s own voice matters at all. At the same time, the conditions for becoming informed, forming opinions, and participating in public debate have changed considerably. Political information is constantly available to young people, appearing alongside entertainment, advertising, and everyday communication, and can be shared with just a few clicks. However, algorithmic curation and misinformation make it increasingly difficult to establish a shared and reliable basis for political information and discussion.

If young people are to become politically empowered, it is therefore not enough simply to explain the electoral system or introduce them to party platforms. But what skills and resources do they need to understand political processes and feel capable of influencing them through their own actions? This is precisely the question addressed by a participatory workshop project within the #UseTheNews initiative. What makes this approach distinctive is that young people are not only asked for their views but are also actively involved in developing and interpreting the findings. Each participating school class takes part in two workshops, each consisting of two double periods. Dr. Leonie Alatassi first piloted the concept with 25 tenth-grade students at a secondary school in Hamburg.

What Young People Understand by Political Agency

During the first workshop, the students jointly explored the different ways in which people can become politically or socially active. It quickly became clear that they viewed participation as much broader than simply voting in elections. Many spoke about their own experiences of political engagement, particularly taking part in demonstrations, including Fridays for Future protests, protests against the AfD, and other political actions. Some also mentioned forms of participation through social media, such as sharing content or creating their own TikTok videos.

Most students closely associated political agency with the ability to bring about change. At the same time, however, they believed that their chances of actually being heard—both socially and politically—were limited. They perceived themselves as somewhat better represented in the media than in politics.

Working in small groups, the students discussed statements relating to political self-efficacy, such as: “I feel confident actively participating in conversations about political issues” or “I am able to understand and assess important political questions.” The groups identified the challenges associated with these statements and considered which skills they would need to answer “yes” with confidence. The results were then analyzed and presented back to the students during the second workshop. This follow-up session focused on validating the key themes and interpretations and building on the findings. Each group then developed concrete proposals for solutions and support measures.

The Greatest Obstacles: Misinformation, Distance, and a Lack of Connection

When discussing what it takes to stay informed, form an opinion, and participate in political discussions, all six groups identified three major challenges.

• The most significant challenge was the prevalence of false, misleading, or contradictory information on social media. Students also noted that when issues are presented in ways that are difficult to understand or seem overly abstract, they become less willing to engage with them.
• Individual factors also played an important role. A lack of motivation, limited interest, and the feeling that political issues have little relevance to everyday life can all make participation more difficult.
• A third area concerned young people’s immediate social environment. They need not only access to information but also supportive environments that provide guidance, encourage discussion, and help them navigate uncertainty.

Accordingly, the groups identified courage, self-confidence, critical thinking, research skills, and access to reliable and trustworthy sources as essential prerequisites for political agency. In other words, political agency is not simply a matter of individual motivation. It also depends on whether young people learn how to evaluate information, have confidence in their own abilities, and find spaces where they can articulate, develop, and test their perspectives.

More Guidance, Better Communication, and Genuine Participation as Solutions?

The solutions proposed by the six groups in response to these challenges revealed remarkably consistent patterns.

1. Almost every group stressed the importance of being able to identify trustworthy information and verify information across multiple sources—for example, by following reputable accounts, comparing different sources, and engaging consciously with misinformation.
2. The discussions also highlighted that news and information literacy should be actively taught and supported, for example by helping young people recognize unreliable sources, presenting complex issues in accessible ways, and providing educational opportunities through school instruction or children’s news programs.
3. The groups also emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for discussion and expression, providing spaces where young people can voice their opinions and overcome uncertainty.
4. Finally, they argued that political issues should be communicated in ways that are more understandable, more closely connected to everyday life, and more participatory—for example, through current examples, direct encounters with politicians, and genuine opportunities to help shape political processes.

A Desire for Support in Navigating Information Confidently

The workshops showed that the students primarily want more practical support in developing information literacy and forming informed opinions, both in and outside school. For example, they suggested skills workshops and classroom formats in which they could practice evaluating trustworthy sources, fact-checking information, conducting research, and identifying arguments and counterarguments.

The students also identified the need for face-to-face spaces where young people can encounter different perspectives, defend their own positions, and develop presentation and debating skills. In addition, trusted individuals—such as teachers, parents, and friends—were seen as playing an important supportive role. Overall, the groups expressed a desire for more guidance, more opportunities to practice, better orientation, and more accessible programs and spaces that would help them become more confident and independent in navigating information.

Looking Ahead

The first workshops make one thing clear: many young people want to get involved. But turning this willingness into genuine political agency requires more than simply providing information. Young people also need support in their personal development, along with opportunities to practice and strengthen their skills.

As part of the free educational program for Hamburg schools, WasserWetterWaterkant2026, school classes can apply to participate in a two-part workshop between 21 September and 2 October 2026. Applications open after the Hamburg summer holidays on Wednesday, 19 August 2026. The program is available online.

Images: Workshop photographs: Leonie Alatassi/HBI.