{"id":8735,"date":"2026-08-05T11:21:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T09:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leibniz-hbi.de\/?p=8735"},"modified":"2026-08-05T11:21:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T09:21:23","slug":"how-politically-empowered-do-young-people-feel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leibniz-hbi.de\/en\/how-politically-empowered-do-young-people-feel\/","title":{"rendered":"How Politically Empowered Do Young People Feel?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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!<\/em> survey<\/a> and the 2025 survey conducted as part of the YoungUP!<\/em> project<\/a>). 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<\/em> <\/a>initiative, high school students explored the barriers to and enabling factors of political participation- while also developing their own understanding of political self-efficacy.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/em><\/a> 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<\/a> first piloted the concept with 25 tenth-grade students at a secondary school in Hamburg.<\/p>\n

What Young People Understand by Political Agency<\/h2>\n

\"Whiteboard \"Collection<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2014both socially and politically\u2014were limited. They perceived themselves as somewhat better represented in the media than in politics.<\/p>\n

Working in small groups, the students discussed statements relating to political self-efficacy, such as: \u201cI feel confident actively participating in conversations about political issues\u201d<\/em> or \u201cI am able to understand and assess important political questions.\u201d<\/em> The groups identified the challenges associated with these statements and considered which skills they would need to answer \u201cyes\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

The Greatest Obstacles: Misinformation, Distance, and a Lack of Connection<\/h2>\n

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