Yet young people particularly want to contribute to connection. They do their best to find common ground and understand others better. They themselves suggest solutions for achieving this. For example, the young people advocate allowing each other to finish speaking, talking openly about what you experience on social media, and calling each other out on inciting hatred.
But they also ask adults for help. Young people believe that adults should set a good example and support them in dealing with differences of opinion. They consider it important, for example, that politicians be aware of what they say during debates, that parents talk to their children about the use of social media, and that teachers address politics and diversity in their lessons.
Hannes van de Ven of the Netherlands Youth Institute (NJi) views the findings of the study positively. “The clear desire among young people to feel more connected to others and to listen to one another better particularly stands out, as does their wish for adults to take on a stronger role as examples.”
No real connection
Van de Ven recognises that young people see polarisation increasing. “The strange thing is that positions do not appear to be growing further apart, but that this does apply to how you think about people with a different opinion. We call this affective polarisation. It is no longer about someone’s ideas, but, for example, about that person being labelled left-wing or right-wing and therefore not valued. This study shows that young people also notice this hardening of attitudes. In addition, explicit statements by politicians, which spread further via social media, also contribute to this hardening.”
Do not shy away from conversations about society
Van de Ven considers it positive that young people recognise this and do not point fingers at others, but instead acknowledge that they need to move closer together and need adults’ help in doing so. “In the classroom, teachers cannot shy away from conversations about society, for example. Even when intense things are said, that is not the moment to cut the conversation short, but rather to ask further questions. Of course, it is important to set boundaries, but do not exclude anyone from the conversation. Ask what lies behind a particular statement. Ask students to let each other finish speaking and encourage them to really listen to one another. Make it clear that different opinions are not wrong, but are actually part of a strong democracy. You can only discover those differences by reaching out to one another. And if you cannot find common ground politically, you can still play a game of football together and look for what does unite you.”
Read the study Young People’s Perspective on Polarisation here.