Millennials rising: a new resource model for youth political participation

The collection of these three articles develops a new understanding of what promotes political participation. Focusing on Millennials and generational differences, this study looks at how a formal education has become less important for encouraging political engagement, and the increase reliance on social media as a news source. The second article shows how the accumulation of student debt has created a cohort of young Americans who participate in politics more often than those who do not have student debt. The final chapter explores if policy issues salient to young people can promote civic engagement. Results suggest that one way to involve Millennials with traditional forms of political participation is through targeting youth on salient policy issues (e.g. environmental protection, abortion rights, marijuana legislation, higher education funding).

These three studies together work together to provide a clearer picture of what drives political participation in youth as they comprise a majority of eligible voters in the United States. Understanding their motivations is essential to the continuation of our democratic institutions.