Amid Ontario’s municipal elections, young candidates and new voters are exploring the impact of social media, particularly TikTok and Instagram, in combating voter apathy among youth. According to data from Elections Canada, voter turnout among individuals aged 18 to 24 has consistently been the lowest since 2004, with engagement increasing with age and peaking among those aged 65 to 74.
Florence Yan, a student at the University of Waterloo, highlighted the significant role of social media in shaping young people’s political views and opinions. Neel Laroiya, another student at the university, emphasized the effectiveness of both social media and traditional door-to-door campaigning in reaching out to younger voters who primarily rely on platforms like Instagram for news consumption due to time constraints.
Sebastian Wang, an 18-year-old first-time voter, expressed his eagerness to make an informed decision in the upcoming election, emphasizing the importance of utilizing his voting power to drive change.
Ibraheem Kappaya, a 19-year-old student at Wilfrid Laurier University and a candidate for Kitchener city council, emphasized the necessity of leveraging social media to engage a diverse audience, utilizing humor and multilingual content to connect with voters of various backgrounds.
Michael Agueci, a 23-year-old municipal candidate in Guelph, emphasized the significance of social media presence in enhancing name recognition and engaging voters, particularly in the absence of political party affiliations in local races.
University student Jordan Bauman stressed the importance of hosting candidate debates on campus to raise awareness among students, particularly on critical issues like affordable housing and property taxes that resonate with the younger electorate.
Political science professor Lydia Miljan highlighted the effectiveness of combining social media campaigning with traditional methods like door knocking to engage voters effectively. Meanwhile, psychology professor Anne Wilson underscored the importance of relatability and addressing young voters’ concerns on platforms like TikTok and Instagram to attract and retain their attention.
In summary, the integration of social media strategies, including TikTok and Instagram, alongside traditional campaign methods, is crucial in engaging and mobilizing young voters during municipal elections, as observed among candidates and students in Ontario.