Wild Card

 Politics, Social Media, and Generation Z

As an individual born into Generation Z, I have some knowledge of the habits and views of those my age. Gen Z is made up of those born from the years 1997 to 2012. Because Generation Z is still relatively young, the older members lean towards millennial views and remember when social media wasn't a significant aspect of everyday life. Still, statistically speaking, political opinions, social media habits, and characteristics can differ from generation to generation. The overwhelming impact that Gen Z has on politics through social media is astounding; not only is the generation sharing their views, but they are also being influenced, and many take advantage of that.

According to Pew Research Center, one-in-ten eligible voters were part of Gen Z during the 2020 election. Of those between 18 and 24, 65% voted for Biden, according to the NBC exit polls. It has also been noticed that in the GOP, Gen Z has different views than older Republicans. For example, 43% of Republican Gen Zers claim that black Americans are treated less fairly than white Americans. According to Pew Research Center, "compared with 30% of Millennial Republicans and roughly two-in-ten Gen X, Boomer and Silent Generation Republicans, views are much more consistent across generations among Democrats and Democratic leaners." Also, the youngest members of the political party are more likely to stand out on their views of climate change and the environment. 

Based on social media content, it is easy to say that Generation Z is swayed by public relations, political influencers, and their peers. Social media has created a new form of protest in the past two decades. Individuals can complain, share views, and protest by posting updates and videos through platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. Today, people can hear about different issues and learn about politics faster than in past generations. Based on Gen Z's ability to become engaged and support activism, it is easy to see how social media has assisted young voters in constructing their political viewpoints. Furthermore, voters are just some of the members of Gen Z that support and use social media to share their political opinion. 

Because of Gen Z's strong social media presence and influence on voters, politicians are beginning to use Gen Z influencers to help encourage voting. 60% of TikTok users are Gen Z members, making it an attractive marketing tool to reach the younger generation. Of course, it is essential to remember that TikTok is an algorithm-based platform, meaning that content will match the users' interests. So, political advertisements will likely be found on the home page of someone already affiliated with the party; however, it does not change the influence of the ad. 

It is heavily speculated that Gen Z is why the anticipated "red wave" for republicans was blocked in the 2022 midterm elections. According to Rutgers, "Generation Z was definitely a factor in the election and one the pundits might not have anticipated." One theory is that political pundits did not engage Gen Z effectively. This is due to the generation's use of social media rather than cable or streaming news. In the future, pollsters will need to use social media to get an accurate view of political forecasts. Many times, polls are taken through phone calls or text links; however, Gen Z is a technology-driven generation. In my experience, Gen Zers will not take the time to do either of these surveys. Finding ways to accomplish this through social media would capture a true number regarding voter predictions. 

 

It has been said that John Fetterman may not have one the Pennsylvania senate seat without Gen Z. According to Mashable, "the 18-29 year old vote in Pennsylvania was lopsided in Fetterman's favor by 42 percent, more than enough to cancel out Oz's Boomer supporters." 

I have witnessed the changes in topics regarding my generation. Slowly, politics has become a significant talking point between people my age through social media. It is fascinating to witness Generation Z's influence on politics. Gen Z has influenced voting but has curated their views through social media and people their age. It has been estimated that Gen Z and Millennials will make up 40% of voters in 2024. I am glad that I was born at a time when I could experience social media as it changes our culture and society, and at the same time, I have memories of when social media was not an essential aspect of our culture today. Gen Z is already leaving its mark on politics, so it will be interesting to see how this generation will shape the future.