New publication Not Your Parents' Politics reveals that young people are actively engaging in political discourse on social media, but their modes of expression—infused with humor, pop culture, emotions, and personal experiences—differ from traditional expectations of political expression. Rather than dismissing these forms of expression as trivial, the book argues that they are meaningful and influential in shaping youth political socialization and democratic participation. By taking these expressions seriously, we can better understand and support young people as active political citizens in the digital age.
[Hebrew University] In the digital age, young people are redefining what it means to be politically engaged. Social media has emerged as a crucial space for youth to experiment with their political voice, express their views, and engage in political discourse. However, conventional expectations of political expression—emphasizing rationality, objectivity, and detachment—fail to capture the vibrant and often unconventional ways young people engage with politics online.
In their new book, Not Your Parents' Politics: Understanding Young People's Political Expression on Social Media, scholars Prof. Neta Kligler-Vilenchik from the Department of Communication and Journalism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Prof. Ioana Literat a professor of communication, media, and learning technologies design at Teachers College, Columbia University challenge traditional assumptions about what political discourse should look like and offer a fresh perspective on how young people navigate political expression in the digital age.
The book draws on empirical research across three case studies, each examining youth political expression on different social media platforms. Through this research, the authors uncover how young people’s political expression is often humoristic, deeply personal, emotionally charged, and infused with popular culture references. By analyzing how platform affordances, norms, and content shape political expression, Not Your Parents' Politics provides a vital framework for understanding contemporary youth civic engagement and its implications for democracy.
Highlights from the Book:
- The intersection of young people, social media, and politics is filled with anxieties, often dominated by moral panic and concerns about youth engagement online.
- Despite concerns over incivility and polarization, social media remains a key space for youth political socialization and self-expression.
- Young people’s political discourse often diverges from traditional expectations, emphasizing humor, personal experiences, and pop culture references.
- Political expression on social media provides insights into the issues young people care about and their vision for the future.
- Platforms shape political expression, but youth navigate these spaces in creative and meaningful ways to make their voices heard.
The intersection of young people, social media, and politics is often fraught with skepticism and concern. Society grapples with moral panic over youth engagement on digital platforms, and the discourse around social media and politics has shifted from initial optimism to fears of extremism, polarization, and profit-driven manipulation. However, the connection between young people and politics remains a critical aspect of democratic participation. Not Your Parents' Politics argues that social media has become a crucial space for youth to develop their political voices and interact with pressing societal issues.
By highlighting diverse forms of political expression—such as lip-syncing political speeches, creating artistic protest content, and engaging in activism through gaming—the book challenges the notion that traditional, rational, and fact-based political discourse is the only valid form. Instead, it argues that humor, emotions, and personal experiences are integral to youth political engagement. By analyzing real-world case studies, Not Your Parents' Politics provides a framework for understanding and valuing the evolving nature of civic engagement in the digital age. The book titled “Not Your Parents' Politics: Understanding Young People's Political Expression on Social Media” is now available for purchase through major retailers.
Authors:
By Neta Kligler-Vilenchik and Ioana Literat