We’ve heard it all before – The youth of today are more interested in selfies than politics or more engaged in social media than social awareness. In the past, the poor turnout of young people at the polls resulted in endless complaints and debates over millennials’ ‘lack of interest’ or ‘apathy’ towards politics, but change is here.Fresh Student Living have looked at how millennials are becoming more socially aware and how they can make a difference with the decisions that could affect their lives.

According to findings, the 2016 EU referendum saw 64% of young people aged 18-24 turn out to vote, which was the highest percentage since the 1992 general election.

Why? Because more young people are interested in decisions that affect their lives. This means that students are not indifferent to politics, they just don’t participate in traditional politics where they feel like their voice is not heard. Research suggests that Brexit has been the trigger to spur millennials on to being more politically aware, socially active and more woke.

 Young People Are More Charitable Than Baby Boomers

According to research, millennials are more inclined to volunteer and have grown more socially and politically conscious since 2016- the year of Brexit. Statistics show that volunteering levels among 45-54 years olds, 55-64-year-olds and those aged 65+ have all dropped since 2012. In contrast, every age group below 45-54 had volunteered more, particularly those aged 16-24 where the percentage of those volunteering was 30% in 2017, up from 24% in 2012.

This research suggests that the Brexit vote has driven this increase in awareness. The research, which included a poll of 1,002 people, showed that:

• 30% of people are more active in a social or political cause since the beginning of 2016 with a 37% rise among the 16-24 age bracket.
• Nine million young people are more inclined to volunteer.
• One in three people agree that charities are the best organisations to provide effective support during the process of Brexit, while 40% say charities can help heal social divides.

 Young People are Concerned 

Young people are being considered an anxious generation, the explanation for their anxiety comes from their uncertainty for the future. Millennials have spent longer in education than any other generation before them and are growing up in a generation where employment isn’t guaranteed.

 Statistics show, on average house prices have increased by 7% per year since 1980, with the number of first time buyers decreasing as the prices have risen. As a result, the average age of getting on the housing ladder is now over the age of 30.

According to a poll of voters aged 18 to 24, young people are most concerned about the following political issues:

• Living costs
• Affordable housing
• Unemployment rates
• The future of NHS
• The gap between rich and poor
• University tuition fees
• The state of UK public finances
• Care for the elderly
• Crime and antisocial behaviour
• Welfare and benefits

The Youth Vote?

After 1992, the youth vote dramatically declined with just 58% of young people voting in 1997, 49.4% in 2001 and 44.3% in 2005. But 2017 saw a sudden surge of young voters heading to the voting stations, with Jeremy Corbyn often heralded as the reason for this.

When asked why they voted for Corbyn, many young people stated that he is a man with principle, which has been highlighted by his vocal opposition to the Iraq war. Additionally, many feel that the party’s ‘youth specific’ policies and use of social media were key reasons for the younger vote.

But despite Corbyn’s popularity among young voters, the real reason is that young people were compelled by the Labour party’s commitment to the NHS, welfare, education and a softer Brexit. What’s more, a poll found that health was the most important local concern among young voters at 21%, while national issues like Brexit followed at 16%.

That said, despite an increased turnout at the general election, young people are still not getting engaged in local council elections, with the Electoral Commission saying there is a ‘stark difference’ in how informed people felt at the local elections versus the general elections.

 Change Can Start at Uni

The best way for students to learn about politics and the stuff that affects your future is to get involved at university. While it is relatively easy to go through university completely oblivious to politics, the truth is that the decisions made by the country’s politicians will directly affect students who are trying to make a living after graduating.