Are young people afraid to speak up?

Maya Izzard, a high school senior from Philadelphia, said young people want to be more involved in politics and civics, but struggle to feel heard by elected officials.

“We want a voice we just don’t know how to exactly take that to our own hands. So … when we see different ways our voices are again taken away … I am more angry about that. I feel like people don’t really understand that in a way,” she said.

Betman, who grew up in a Democratic-leaning household, said many young Republicans are afraid of voicing their opinions. He said his parents are supportive of him, but he believes that young Republicans often face scrutiny for their political views.

“Young people are scared to stand out. Young voters are scared that they’re going to upset others, that they’re going to [be] alienated, especially Republican voters. I think that’s the real reason why people don’t vote,” he said.

However, Babouche said she has noticed a change in young people’s willingness to speak up about their opinions. She said that after Trump won the presidential election in 2024, young people are “openly speaking about politics and advocating for what they believe in.”

“People are no longer as afraid to talk about politics. At least, I’m not afraid to talk about politics. Because I think it’s a really necessary component of our society and as young people, we should use our voices,” she said. “I realize that young people are becoming more open to talk about politics and the issues that truly matter to them because, in the end, it is directly affecting them and their future.”

Civic education

For many young people, social media is a primary source of political news. An Associated Press poll found that 57% of teens ages 13 to 17 get news from social media daily, while a YouGov survey commissioned by SaySo found that 77% of Gen Z get information about the 2026 midterms from online content creators.

Babouche said she believes that social media provides young people with new avenues for education. She says that older voters often assume young people are not educated in politics or are being swayed by social media influencers, but she believes the “interpretation that younger generations are more uneducated or uninterested in politics is completely false because in reality … young people can become more educated through social media.”

Betman says joining the Penn State GOP was a way to remain politically engaged and informed.

“I don’t know enough about what’s going on and that’s probably the reason why I joined the Republican Party, [it] was to stay informed,” he said.

Izzard prioritizes civic education, saying that many young people feel intimidated or unprepared to cast their first ballots. She advocates for more classes on voter rights and politics. She said that voting is a “big part of our lives and being thrown into it at 18 is very harsh for young minds.”

For Betman, being able to cast his vote in November makes him feel heard.

“[It] makes me feel like a real American … I can cast my own vote and try to make a change, as little as one vote is, I can make that change,” he said.

While he’s still unsure how he will vote, Betman hopes to research the candidates and their policies.

“I don’t pay too much attention to smaller votes like for senator or things like that,” he said. “I’m assuming I would do research into each candidate to see which one you know best supports my values. I would presume I’d vote red.”

Izzard, too, believes her first vote is a way of taking her future into her own hands.

“It’s really stepping into that part of adulthood that is kind of held over your head like you’ve got to wait 18 years for all this. So, I do think I care about it a lot. Maybe more than the average 17-year-old would at this point, but I think it’s taking a hold of my own future, you know?” she said.