As the Caerphilly By-Election approaches, young voters are expressing confusion about the electoral process. Many students are turning to social media for information, which they recognize can be misleading. The issue of misinformation is particularly concerning for this demographic.
Welsh Government’s Commitment to Democratic Education
The Welsh government emphasizes the importance of teaching democratic rights in schools. They have stated, “Supporting learners to exercise their democratic rights is a mandatory part of the curriculum.” In anticipation of the Senedd elections in May 2026 and local government elections in 2027, the government will continue to fund projects that aim to enhance democratic education.
Young Voters’ Concerns
Students like Sion have indicated that social media is not always a reliable source of information. “I see things on social media that make me believe they’re true, and then I speak to someone and find out they’re not,” he said. This reflects a broader sentiment among young voters regarding the credibility of online content.
Lily added that the advent of Artificial Intelligence has complicated the search for accurate information. “It’s really hard to find out what’s true or not,” she remarked.
Perception of Young Voters
Concerns also exist regarding how young voters are perceived by political parties. Seren pointed out that some parties attempt to engage younger audiences through platforms like TikTok. “When political parties start hopping on TikTok trends, it’s clear they’re trying to reach young voters… but in weird ways,” she stated. She emphasized that youth should not be dismissed as serious voters because of their age. “At the end of the day, everyone’s vote is equal,” she concluded.
