JurnalPost.com - Politics is often perceived as the business of officials, political parties, or something that only gains traction leading up to general elections. In reality, politics is deeply connected to everyday life, including the lives of young people.
From education costs, job opportunities, and the price of basic necessities to public facilities, everything can be influenced by government policies. Therefore, I believe young people need to understand politics and not merely remain spectators when decisions affecting their future are made.
Youth involvement in politics does not mean one must join a party or become a politician. Understanding current issues, following policy developments, expressing opinions, and exercising the right to vote responsibly are also forms of political participation.
Research by Jayawinangun and Nugroho (2025) explains that digital media, including the internet and social media, has a positive influence on political knowledge and awareness. This knowledge and awareness play a role in encouraging political participation among young voters, both online and offline.
This shows that understanding politics is a crucial step for the younger generation to engage more actively and responsibly in democratic life.
The Significant Role of Youth in Democracy
The substantial role of young people in Indonesia's democracy can be seen from the composition of voters in the 2024 General Election.
Based on data published by the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), the number of millennial voters reached 66,822,389, while Generation Z voters totaled 46,800,161.
Combined, these two groups account for more than 113 million people, or approximately 55.5 percent of the total 2024 General Election permanent voter list of 204,807,222 people.
This figure shows that the younger generation constitutes a massive portion of Indonesia's voting population. However, in my view, this large number of young voters should be accompanied by the awareness to make choices wisely.
In making political choices, young people need to know who the candidates are, their track records, and what programs and policies they offer to the public.
Do not let political decisions be based solely on someone's popularity, peer influence, family choices, or content trending on social media.
Everyone certainly has the right to determine their own choice. However, that choice will be more meaningful if it is based on mature consideration and reliable information.
Political Participation Does Not End After the Election
In my opinion, one thing young people need to understand is that political participation does not end after casting a ballot at the polling station.
General elections are indeed a means for the public to determine their leaders. However, after a leader is elected, the public still has a role in monitoring the course of the government.
For example, the public can observe whether campaign promises are being fulfilled, whether the policies issued are beneficial, and how the government resolves the various issues faced by the community.
Young people also need to be brave enough to express opinions and criticisms of policies deemed inappropriate. However, such criticism should be based on facts, delivered with clear reasoning, and not merely driven by emotion.
On the other hand, when the government issues policies that benefit the public, these should also be appreciated. Thus, the assessment of the government does not depend solely on whether one likes or dislikes a particular figure.
To me, a critical attitude does not mean always opposing the government, but rather striving to understand issues objectively before forming a judgment.
Social Media and the Challenge of Critical Thinking
In the digital era, social media has become a primary space for young people to obtain information, including on politics.
Various information regarding government policies, public debates, and the activities of political figures can be found easily through social media.
Research by Qalbuadi, Muhammad, and Saad (2025) on the political involvement of Generation Z in the 2024 Enrekang Regency local election shows that social media has become an important space for young people to express political views and participate in discussions on public issues.
The presence of social media certainly provides many conveniences. Young people can obtain information quickly, follow the development of issues, and express opinions without having to be directly involved in formal political activities.
However, this convenience also comes with challenges. Not all information circulating on social media is true and accountable.
There is information presented without complete context, and there are opinions crafted to appear as facts. Even a post can go viral before its accuracy is verified.
In my view, this is what makes the ability to think critically increasingly important for young people.
Before believing or sharing political information, we need to check the source, read the news content thoroughly, and compare it with information from other reliable sources.
Young people must also be able to distinguish between facts, personal opinions, and unverified information.
Do not let social media, which should help the public gain knowledge, instead make us easily influenced by misleading information.
Respecting Differences in Political Choice
In a democratic life, differences in political choice are natural. Everyone has different experiences, needs, and perspectives in evaluating candidates or government policies.
Such differences should not be a reason to insult or demean others.
In my opinion, young people need to get used to discussing openly and respecting differing opinions.
When we disagree with a view, we can present reasons and evidence that support our own opinion without having to attack the person personally.
Discussions like this can actually help us understand issues from various perspectives.
Critical thinking also means being willing to listen to others' opinions and reconsidering one's own views if stronger information or facts are found.
With such an attitude, political differences do not have to lead to hostility, but can become an opportunity to learn from one another.
Young People Do Not Need to Shun Politics
It cannot be denied that some young people still consider politics to be something complicated, full of debate, or far removed from their lives.
In fact, political understanding can start from simple issues often encountered in daily life.
For students, for example, issues regarding education costs, internship opportunities, job markets, and campus policies can be a starting point to understand how a decision is made and who is involved in it.
The same applies to issues of the environment, public transportation, and community facilities. All these things can be material for discussion to understand the relationship between public policy and citizens' needs.
Schools and universities also have an important role in increasing the political awareness of the younger generation. Through civic education, discussion activities, and student organizations, young people can learn to express opinions while respecting the views of others.
In my view, political education should not only teach how to use the right to vote, but also how to understand issues, evaluate information, and express aspirations responsibly.
Becoming a Smart Voter and a Concerned Citizen
Ultimately, the involvement of young people in politics is not just a matter of who is chosen when an election takes place.
More than that, political participation relates to the awareness to understand the state of society, pay attention to government policies, and participate in expressing opinions on issues that impact our collective life.
Young people can start with simple steps, such as reading information from trusted sources, understanding candidates' programs, following policy developments, and not being easily influenced by information whose truth is unclear.
In my opinion, being a young person who cares about politics does not mean having to constantly talk about politics or engage in every debate. The more important thing is to have the willingness to learn, understand issues, and determine a stance based on reasonable considerations.
It is not enough for young people to just go to the polling station and make a choice. We also need to think critically, respect differences, and remain concerned about the course of the government after the election is over.
With knowledge and responsible participation, the younger generation can help maintain the quality of democracy and contribute to building the nation's future.
Bibliography
Election Supervisory Body. (2023, July 3). As the Most Dominant Voters, Bawaslu Invites the Younger Generation to Participate Actively in the 2024 Election. Katingan Regency Bawaslu.
General Elections Commission of the Republic of Indonesia. (2023, July 2). 2024 Election DPT Domestic and Overseas, 204.8 Million Voters. KPU RI.
Jayawinangun, R., & Nugroho, D. R. (2025). The influence of digital media, awareness, and political knowledge on the political participation of young voters. Journal of Communication and Media Studies, 29(1), 16–28. DOI: 10.56873/jskm.2025.5885.
Qalbuadi, G. Q., Muhammad, M., & Saad, M. (2025). Social media and the political involvement of Generation Z in the 2024 Enrekang Regency local election. Noken Journal: Social Sciences, 11(2), 575–586. DOI: 10.33506/jn.v11i2.5075
Comments 0
Write a Comment Share your response