Young people embrace online campaigning
Nearly a third of young people believe online campaigning is more effective than street protests, a survey by youth volunteering charity vInspired has found.
A poll of 1,364 young people aged 16 to 21 found that 28 per cent thought social media was the best way to get campaigns heard, while 10 per cent opted for protesting in the streets.
Just one in five said they believed politicians could improve the country, although 45 per cent felt their generation could change things.
Terry Ryall, chief executive of vInspired, said: “Young people have always been at the forefront of social change. Their creativity, passion and energy is truly world-changing.
“Digital technology has made it easier than ever to harness all that energy to create positive change. Even elections are already being won and lost through the power of social media.
“We want young people to understand this power and learn to use it to do something about all the things they really care about.”
The survey also asked young people to pick out issues and policies they would most like to see.
High levels of unemployment came top of the issues that concerned the young people, with 29 per cent selecting it as the most pressing issue facing the UK.
The young people’s favourite policy, picked by 18 per cent, was to make people work for their benefits, followed by 16 per cent who wanted the banks to repay the bailout money they had received faster.
The survey was carried out to mark the launch of vInspired Live, a music event run by vInspired that is designed to encourage young people to make their voices heard and campaign on issues that matter to them.
The charity intends to use the 6 July concert to kickstart three campaigns, which young people are being asked to propose as part of its Change Something programme.
The winning campaigns will be selected ahead of the event and the young people who proposed them will get to work with celebrity mentors to help create a buzz about it on social media.
Source: CYPNow
