Reaching the indifferent

Last week, a young woman competing in a noontime show beauty pageant went viral after admitting during the question-and-answer portion that she had no idea what the Commission on Elections (Comelec) does. She also admitted that even though she is already 20 years old, she is not a registered voter yet. Unable to hide his disappointment, the host asked her who she thought was at fault for her “ignorance.” Laughing, she conceded that she knew she was to blame.

Comelec data shows that Filipinos born after the 1980s consist of more than half of the more than 60 million registered voters. Through my work, I have met many incredible youth-led organizations from across the country that champion causes such as voter education, good governance, and human rights. Rather than make sweeping statements about young people’s supposed political apathy (a perspective that accomplishes nothing but to alienate them further), a more constructive response is to reflect on how we can effectively reach the significant number who remain uninformed, disengaged, or, worse, misinformed.

The contestant explained that her family does not own a television and that Comelec-related news rarely appears on her social media feed. This highlights how the way young people consume information directly impacts their civic engagement. If their feeds are dominated by an infinite supply of celebrity gossip, trending challenges, and curated lifestyle offerings, while political and social issues only surface when they are sensationalized or framed as viral controversies, it should be no surprise that young people are consuming more of the same content—while neglecting other “less entertaining” topics, like news and current events.

Some online sleuths later discovered that the television contestant had previously shared posts containing political disinformation. The proliferation of fake news has not only made it increasingly difficult for young people to discern truth from manipulation, it also compromises their ability to take definitive and well-informed stances on important issues.

A 2019 survey conducted by the Far Eastern University Policy Center found that while Generation Z Filipinos (ages 17 to 24) have significantly more access to information through social media compared to previous generations, they do not always take the initiative to evaluate or verify what they read. The study found that only 8 percent of the respondents critically assess the information they find online, while only 12 percent ask clarifying questions. Without the habit of fact-checking to counter the constant exposure to contradictory information, young people may find themselves adopting inconsistent viewpoints—susceptible to changing their minds depending on the last posts they see.

Given these challenges, the focus should be on how to effectively facilitate discussions that break down complex political issues and foster a sense of civic duty and agency among young people. One example is a TikTok video posted by dancer-turned-lawyer Les Paul Sañez, who addressed the issue by sharing a brief explainer on the purpose of Comelec. While the content itself was informative, what intrigued me more was the resulting dialogue in the comments section. As of writing, it had attracted 1,790 replies. Some young TikTok users admitted their political apathy, expressing that their daily struggles leave them with little energy to engage in civic matters. Others patiently responded by explaining, using concrete real-world examples, how politics directly impacts everyday life. One comment stood out: “Ignoring it won’t make life easier; understanding it might help change the system.” Practical and respectful intergenerational conversations like this should happen more often, both online and offline.

The classroom remains as a crucial starting point to ensure these discussions happen. Political disengagement among young people is symptomatic of the broader failure of the education system to present political and social issues in ways that feel relevant and meaningful to students’ lives. More importantly, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, educators must remember that our job is not to teach our students what to think, but how to think. When they read about a newly opened P1.225-billion bridge that collapsed in Isabela, they should have an inquiring mind to ask why it happened, the analytical skills to determine whether corruption or negligence played a role, and the political will to demand accountability.

A healthy democracy relies on an educated, interested, and politically active public who can engage in constructive discourse, protect fundamental freedoms, and exercise their right to vote. In contrast, an uninformed electorate is easily manipulated, and the foundations of democracy are weakened when its youngest members are indifferent. We can either mock and complain about the young contestant’s ignorance, or we can reflect on what we are proactively doing to promote political awareness and cultivate civic engagement within our spheres of influence.

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eleanor@shetalksasia.com