With 30 days left until Election Day, time is limited to register and make a voting plan. As of January 6, 2024, Franklin County ranks third in most 18 year olds registered to vote in the state of Ohio.
Democratic elections are the only time where each eligible voter has as much influence and numerical impact as the next, where everyone is on an equal playing field.
As citizens, we carry the personal responsibility to exercise the right to vote and foster change through personal actions as opposed to through words. It’s easy to be consumed by constant scrolling, allowing influencers and content creators to indirectly make decisions for us without a second thought.
Children are taught that there are two sides to every story. However, this lesson soon becomes lost as a result of the influence, input, and insight of others. Confirmation bias is a natural tendency to search for and recall information in a way that supports preexisting beliefs. It’s easy to interact with content and other media that we agree with and find relatable. It’s easier to be affirmed than to seek out information and to challenge what you already believe.
It’s imperative to make efforts moving away from what is already known in order to make educated decisions and form well-rounded opinions as individuals. Showing up, being present and accountable matters now more than ever as personal responsibility and power overrides ease and comfort. Oftentimes our character is hindered by everything we are caught up in, stuck in a screen and falling down rabbit-holes and doom scrolls.
The overwhelming amount of mindless interactions online result in increasing apathy, especially in Gen Z. It’s harder than ever to find a reason to care, especially when stimming leads to spiraling in an endless tunnel of outside information.
Take a step back from being influenced, persuaded and convinced by others and learn about the surrounding world. Education and perspectives aid in guiding individuals towards choices right for them when making decisions about the future.
Filled with biases, opinions and personal experiences, taking a step back allows for an opportunity to consider how much of that is influenced by media we consume and content we are exposed to. Prepare to be bombarded by campaigns, misinformation and unsolicited opinions for the next 30 days while also working to develop personal opinions and casting ballots.
Media influence is not a new phenomenon, but it’s important to recognize the pace in which it is impacting society. Unlike trends and seasons, this is not something that will pass. The world is moving in this direction, and will continue to do so whether we make an attempt to embrace it or not.
Put your phone down, educate yourself, hold others accountable, and vote with your voice.
