Nearly one in three students at the Academy of American Studies remained undecided in the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. With a flood of information on social media and a deeply polarized political landscape, many young voters struggled to make a final choice. Now that the election is over, many students are left questioning their decisions, frustrated by the constant back-and-forth online and uncertain about the future.
The 2024 U.S. presidential election highlighted a big challenge for young voters, especially students at the Academy of American Studies. With issues like the economy, healthcare, and climate change dominating the conversation, many students struggled to decide who to vote for. Despite talking with friends, family, and teachers, many remained undecided, overwhelmed by the constant stream of information on social media.
Social media’s influence on political opinions was a major theme among undecided voters at Academy. With platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter filled with political discourse, many students struggled to differentiate between fact and opinion. Evelyn Q., senior, pointed to a key issue: “I think that in our generation, we are not fact-checking our resources because we mostly rely on what we see or read, for example, what we see on TikTok or Instagram.”
Her comment reflects a growing concern that the constant influence of political content on social media leaves little room for thoughtful evaluation. Landon L., junior, said,”I do not believe undecided voters during the 2024 U.S. presidential election fact-checked their news, because most of them don’t know where to fact-check or believe the first things they see.”
As misinformation continues to spread online, separating fact from fiction became a critical challenge for many students. Inigo V., senior, explained how the rapid pace of digital media makes it hard for voters to verify what they read. “I think undecided voters base their views on the basic public media and not checking whether it’s backed up or not.”
This issue is due to the fast-paced nature of news cycles, where the information is often based on immediacy rather than accuracy. With information constantly being updated, it’s easy for voters, especially young ones, to get lost in misinformation.
Despite their uncertainty, many students cited key issues such as the economy, healthcare, and climate change as essential to their decision making habits. Candidates focused heavily on these areas during the campaign, knowing that young voters, especially students, are mainly concerned with the future of these issues.
The uncertainty felt by undecided voters at the Academy mirrors the broader challenges faced by young Americans in the 2024 election. As digital platforms continue to dominate the political conversation, the ability to sort through information and critically evaluate sources will be increasingly important for future elections. Whether students can become more discerning in their media consumption could shape not only their votes but the broader political landscape moving forward.