W. Lance Bennet addressed these and many more points in "Changing Citizenship in the Digital Age." Bennet explored how the younger generation is less likely to engage in politics and civic organizations, is leery of media, and is less likely to learn civics in school as compared to older generations (birth year prior to 1977) (Bennet, 2008). The techniques Bennet considered is how youth are integrating digital technologies to redefine citizenship. Previously citizenship meant identifying with a political party and engaging with a group's goal. But as Peter Levine is quoted, "Perhaps youth are deliberately and wisely choosing not to endorse forms of participation that are flawed." (Bennet, 2008, p4).
I agree that many young people today feel that the current politicians are fake and foolish. Their choices and debates have very little to do with issues that I care about, nor would my opinion matter to them if I tried to voice them. Instead of physically voting with a party that tells me what is important, I, like many other young people, would rather make a difference in my day to day actions. As Bennet notes, youth are showing their political choices through consumerism, volunteerism, and activism. Individuality is far more important that associating with predetermined opinions of a group or party (Bennet, 2008 p14).
I agree that youth are less interested in passive absorption of political propaganda as presented by television or news reports. Voicing an opinion on social media or creating political statement that goes "viral" seems to be the new soapbox for civics. Being able to interact in real time on individual and worldly issues seems a far better mode of engagement. However as Raquel Recuero pointed out, politics on social media can easily become an emotionally-charged sounding board without any real communication, interaction, or engagement on the issue. (Recuero, 2012)
Bennett, Lance. "Changing Citizenship in the Digital Age." Civic Life Online:Learning How Digital Media Can Engage Youth. Edited byW. Lance Bennet. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Media and Learning. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. 2008. 1–24.doi:10.1162/dmal.9780262524827.001
Recuero, Raquel. "Digital Youth, Social Movements, and Democracy in Brazil." How are Brazilian youth becoming digital, what potential does digital media provide for democracy and social movements? 2012. http://bit.ly/Qgo0RS
