Ever since the election, there seems to be a torrent of polling that shows Americans in their late teens and early twenties are fairly reactionary (young men overwhelmingly so). I’m old so I don’t know anyone IRL in that age bracket. But something about what the media has been claiming for months now doesn’t seem to sound right. Idk maybe it’s 100% true but it’s something I have a hard time taking the media’s word for. I know we have quite a few users here in that age bracket. What are your real-life experiences (i.e. not online) with this? Do you think this age demographic is actually trending reactionary?
(I do remember digging into the details of one poll, and while it seemed there was more affiliation with Republicans than previous, it also seemed like there were an also very large segment that were openly showing to be further left than the democrats? So maybe more reactionary sentiment but also more genuinely leftish sentiment?)
Polls can say whatever you want, and a poll of the younger generation specifically I’d be highly dubious of the methodology and accuracy of: people that age don’t use landlines, and if their alternative is something online/computer based then people tend not to focus and just give the quickest answer, it are intentionally trolly ‘yep uh huh I’m suuuuuuper racist’ (when their just regular racist /s)
It’ll be used to justify further shit ‘See the older generation are happy with their insurance, and the younger generation don’t even want healthcare!’
Polls are absolutely designed to get the “right” results. American society has always hated children and youth and they need to make sure people don’t listen to them because they tend to be more radical. To take the concerns of young people about the economy, the planet, the future in general, etc. seriously would mean people questioning the political apparatus. Polls play an important role in creating the perception that American politics can only be a certain way.