From Likes to Votes | Arabia Simeon | TEDxDetroit

TL;DR

Young people are engaged in politics through social media activism, but face barriers to voting due to lack of representation and information. Pogo, a nonpartisan mobile app, aims to bridge the gap and make the voting experience quick, personalized, and transparent.

Transcript

I have a confession to make I'm addicted to my phone actually the internet and I know I'm not the only one some of you may be wondering if you fit into this category if you speak in Tik Tock Trends or memes welcome if you're addicted to Candy Crush like my mom welcome and if you get most of your news from social media instead of traditional news so... Read More

Key Insights

• 👯 Young people are addicted to their phones and the internet, engaging with social media as a primary mode of communication.
• 😥 Youth culture and activism are archived on social media platforms, providing a starting point for mobilizing young voters.
• ◼️ Youth voter turnout has increased through social media activism, but barriers such as lack of representation and credible news sources still exist.
• 👨‍🔬 Pogo aims to simplify the voting experience for young people by providing personalized research, matching voters with candidates, and gamifying the platform.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does social media activism contribute to youth voter turnout?

Social media activism, such as platforms like I voted and J z for change, has increased youth voter turnout by providing information, organizing networks, and engaging young people through virtual concerts and campaigns.

Q: Why do young people still face barriers to voting?

Young people feel that campaigns don't target them and struggle to find credible news sources. Social media, their main source of engagement, can be misleading, leading to confusion and distrust.

Q: How does Pogo simplify the voting experience for young voters?

Pogo is a nonpartisan mobile app that matches voters to candidates who align with their values, provides personalized election research, and gamifies the platform to make it engaging and addictive.

Q: What is the long-term vision of Pogo?

Pogo aims to target local elections first and inform everyday voters. By staying nonpartisan and accessible, Pogo aims to empower young people to become informed and active participants in the democratic process.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Social media has become the main mode of communication and engagement for young people, creating a digital archive of youth culture.

• Young people care about politics but don't feel represented, leading to low voter turnout.

• Social media activism has increased youth voter turnout, but there are still barriers preventing young people from voting in large numbers.