This piece is part of Yellow Scene Magazine’s Opinion section. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent a reported news position. At Yellow Scene, opinion pieces speak freely, challenge assumptions, and say the quiet parts out loud.

On January 30th, 2026, thousands of students and teachers across the Denver metro area walked out in solidarity with Minnesota, forcing two school districts to close for the day and several others to operate on reduced schedules. I joined these students at La Alma Lincoln Park in Denver, where some 3,500 people gathered to hear stories about the students, people, and communities being impacted by ICE. This event, planned in less than 4 days, was the result of coordinated efforts by a group of under-25s, including me. It also represented the culmination of mounting frustration with our government, driven by a growing feeling that voting no longer seems to make an impact on the state representatives who continue to fail us, alongside watching America become more and more expensive and less livable.

Thousands of young people across the country marched and organized to make sure their voices are heard. That may come as a surprise to many. Time and time again, I hear people decry young people for their laziness or remark, “All they care about is TikTok.”  And, to be fair, to someone who did not grow up with TikTok or Instagram, it may appear this way from the outside.  However, the reality is that the world has changed: it’s not as small as it was for kids growing up in the 80s, 90s, or 2000s. Most young people report they do not have a third space – a place separate from school and home – to find comfort in. It is no wonder we have retreated to social media; even if it’s arguably harmful to our health, it is one of the few places we have to socialize and find connection. Beyond that, people miss that platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and others have created opportunities for forms of civic engagement unheard of in the past. 

Students marching in La Alma

It is through these social media avenues that actionable items spread like wildfire: the moment Minnesota University students called for the aforementioned strike,  thousands joined them. And a feat like that would not be possible without the rapid community organizing and awareness that social media provides a basis for. When I open my personal Instagram account, nearly every other story my peers post is about climate change, ICE, or protests. Exposure like this led me to get involved in community organizing with groups in the Denver area, and I fundamentally believe that this dynamic contributes to civic engagement as students transition into adulthood. 

There is, of course, the counterargument that social media creates echo chambers. And, it’s true. Living in a liberal area like Denver, naturally, most of my peers lean this way – and they and the algorithms push out dissenting voices. This happens, and it is, unfortunately, the major downside of constantly using social media. It is also undoubtedly one of the greatest contributors to the increase in political division in our country – polarizing communities that once stood strong together. But the reality is that

Social media is not going away, and now more than ever, we must embrace it as a way to lead young people into civic engagement. 

It is indeed unfortunate, but one of the most successful digital candidacy campaigns was conducted by Donald Trump and the far right. Trump, along with his lackeys at Turning Point USA and other organizations, successfully created a movement that brought a tidal wave of young, mostly white, men to the right. Trump’s victory in this demographic proves that a group of young people can still be engaged in political action – Trump was just one of the first to do so. 

More recently, another successful social media campaign was Zohran Mamdani’s. His sweeping victory in New York City in 2025 proved that tactics similar to those Trump used can work on the left as well. In fact, nearly one in ten Trump voters in New York City also voted for Mamdani. There are two consistent patterns between these two 

candidates: an online appeal and a diversion from the norm. I can tell you concretely that people of all ages, but particularly those under 30, are ready for something different. This is why Trump and Mamdani won; they were different. Both Mamdani and Trump spoke to voters through these new digital avenues and played not only into social media engagement but also into the struggles that young people are facing. 

Young student protestors in La Alma

Here is my advice to anyone trying to understand the youth perspective: stop looking at it through your eyes and start looking at it through theirs. The way we socialize is wildly different from how it ever has been, and the issues we face are different. Youth are less focused on voting – often because we see no purpose in voting for candidates who bring more of the “same.” The engagement I see from the youth is one rooted in a different type of organizing – one within our communities, focused on direct action, as opposed to electoral politics. Don’t get me wrong – I believe electoral politics are very important. But the generations that have come before us need to start championing solutions to our battles before we see youth return to the voting booths. It is our job to lead the way into the future, but we need your support. 

The next time you talk to your teenage granddaughter, your 20-year-old nephew, or your own kid, ask them: What is your perspective? Lead with curiosity, understanding, and avoid defensiveness. Tell them you believe them. Then, do your absolute best to champion and advocate for the youth in your life – because this is our future that older generations are playing with, and we have to come together to make it better. When other generations stop leading with attacks and start embracing contemporary forms of civic engagement, like social media, the dynamic completely alters. Youth ARE engaged, but it looks different, and if we, as a society, strive to adapt to this new world, we can create real, progressive change.

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The post Coming From a 17-year-old: Young People Are More Engaged Than You Think  appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.