Where Do Students Get Their Political Views From?

In an age where information is accessible with just a few taps on your phone, students are exposed to more political media than ever before. But where exactly do these views originate? Are they shaped by conversations at home, the news, school, or the viral content that floods social media platforms? And, for students who do not actively keep up with politics, to whom do they turn for information?

Parents and close relatives are usually the earliest exposure to political discussions for most people. For instance, sophomore Frieda Kuehlmann relied heavily on the views of her parents to form her own opinions. “My parents would always tell me about their ideology, like their ideas or beliefs on things and like news articles, and then I would read it by myself, and I had both of their inputs.” 

However, many students form their independent opinions about politics without parental input. Students noted that this was mainly due to the traditionally conservative nature of their parents, making it difficult for them to share differing views. “I think, my parents, their political beliefs are kind of old school, per se, like there’s definitely some political beliefs that we don’t really agree with that are more like old fashioned and, you know, I think my political beliefs [are] personally shaped more [by] modern [ideas],” said sophomore Henry Le.

While students derive the foundations of their political views from various sources, the extent of the influence varies. In recent years, particularly, there has been an influx of political content on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The accessibility of such information has yielded both positive and negative outcomes. On one hand, it has exposed many people to news and events that would’ve been buried otherwise. Le believes that a large portion of his political views stem from such sources. “Like the BLM protest of 2020; like the riot in 2021 [...] Anything in the US can just be seen on my phone. I think just things like that, especially things that involve race and gender, definitely shape how I feel [about politics],” Le articulated.

On the other hand, it can be used as a tool to manipulate and spread false information in order to further one party’s agenda. The prevalence of AI-generated or methodically edited photos and videos make it difficult to discern fact from falsehood. “Most people get their views today from social media like Tiktok and Instagram, where there’s quite a bit of misinformation and often a lack of nuanced discourse,” said senior Muhib Muhib. “I could see that having a negative impact [on the future].” 

Some of this lack of nuanced discourse derives from students’ habits to consume media that aligns with their political views, reinforcing existing beliefs. “I feel a lot of political views that I have are definitely represented and depicted in the media.” Le commented. “I would say it’s definitely because I choose to surround myself with people that have similar liberal views and content on social media that [depict] similar political views. [But] I’m not afraid or against also interacting with, being friends with, meeting, and understanding other political views and perspectives.” 

Schools are intended to be spaces for students to learn about the world by engaging with their peers. Not only do peers play a role in shaping political views but also, teachers and classroom environments foster discussion of politics in class, allowing students to interpret events and develop their own political views. Many history teachers in Stuy require students to consume source media such as presidential debates and inauguration speeches, which can be important resources for students to develop their own political views through observing these firsthand events. Traditional news outlets such as CNN or Fox News are also great sources for accurate, in-depth news about politics pertaining to diverse perspectives. Utilizing these platforms online first rather than immediately consulting social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram can allow students to develop their views with trusted information.

For students who don’t often consume online media, various extracurricular communities at Stuy could play a large factor in shaping political views. In spaces like Speech and Debate, such topics are presented in a more professional manner. In the case of the parliamentary team, Kuehlmann expresses, “[For] a lot of people, their political views really are affected by what they learn in debate, because you talk about political topics; you talk about these kinds of things with other people in a civilized manner; you’re not yelling at each other; and you get to hear other people's ideas.”

However, other students feel that education plays a minimal role in shaping their political views. Le claimed, “[Regarding] serious politics and political views, I don’t really associate them with school. And I feel like whenever they are brought up, it’s more of like a non-serious, casual kind of joke, in a way.” 

Furthermore, some students believe that political ideas aren’t brought up much at all in the classroom. Kuehlmann notes, “My teacher[s] now, [don’t talk much about politics]. They don’t do it, and they do it in a way where they kind of avoid talking about any specific political beliefs, but they still manage to link up the current time with what we're learning about or, like, the past.” Although history and government classes tend to cover politically relevant ideas, teachers generally aim to limit bias, focusing instead on helping students make connections to historical events and current issues. Additionally, some teachers might want to protect themselves and other students by avoiding sensitive political topics; however, other teachers might believe that openly talking about politics in class is essential to education and awareness about the world today. Nonetheless, it is important for teachers and students to remain respectful of political opinions if brought up in school, and it definitely does not hurt to share ideas and talk about political events that affect the world.

In contrast, conversations outside of the classroom may be more influential than those discussed academically. During conversation, a person’s comfort level is a major reason why aspects of a student’s political view could change. For example, Le agrees that the political opinions of his friends have the potential to sway his own. “I definitely feel like the people surrounding me, you know; I spend hours with them every single day. I think they definitely can [influence my views]. And, in my personal experience, I feel like they kind of do.” While there may be a sense of hesitancy to consider conflicting opinions on social media or in history class, students tend to absorb the ideas of the friends closest to them.

Students’ political views are shaped by a mix of personal experiences, family upbringing, education, and social media. Ultimately, teenagers today need to learn how to navigate a complex web of information sources and stay vigilant about how different biases may shape their political opinions. As more students become politically aware and develop their own voices, their ability to critically assess these influences will be crucial in shaping our political landscape. One takeaway for students interested in learning more about politics is that balanced exposure to diverse sources is key, but fact-check and verify these sources before using them to shape your political views.