Young Americans Say Facebook and Text Messages are Tools That Make Millennials More Likely to Vote
Generation Opportunity released more polling information from its national survey of young adults ages 18-29.
The newly released data underscores the ongoing power of social media and text messaging as communication tools with the highest likelihood of getting more young Americans to vote. The polling data was made available during the same week that Generation Opportunity, which was publicly announced in June of 2011, topped a combined total of two million fans on its popular Facebook pages “Being American” and “The Constitution.”
In answer to the question of which communications tool would be most likely to get more young Americans to vote, 66% of Millennials indicated Facebook reminder messages, 58% indicated text reminder messages, 38% indicated email reminder messages, 28% indicated public service announcements, and 13% indicated telephone reminders.
“Our data underscores the ongoing power of social media and text messaging among the generation hardest hit by record unemployment and the poor economy. Young adults use these technologies daily to discuss how the economy has delayed their futures and how to manage their lives in the midst of very little economic opportunity,” said Paul T. Conway, the President of Generation Opportunity and former Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Labor. ”One message from young adults is abundantly clear – they are tired of the status quo in Washington and have lost patience with elected leaders who are more focused on their own re-elections than on fixing the issues that have put America on the wrong track.”
Generation Opportunity is a social media and grassroots organization focused on organizing and mobilizing young adults through a strategy based on social media and ground operations. Previously released data from the same Generation Opportunity survey of young adults indicated that 69% believe the current leadership in Washington fails to represent the interests of young people, 61% said they would vote based on a candidates standing on the issues or record in office versus their charisma, 57% said that in 2012 they will learn more about the policy positions of presidential candidates than they did in 2008, and only 31% approve of President Obama’s handling of youth unemployment.
2012 – Most Effective Platforms to Encourage Young Americans to Vote:
Generation Opportunity commissioned a poll with the polling company, inc./WomanTrend (April 16 – 22, 2011, +/- 4% margin of error) and select results for all young Americans ages 18-29 appears below:
- When asked, “Which, of the following, would make young people more likely to vote?” – young Americans indicated:
- 66% Facebook Message Reminder
- 58% Text Message Reminder
- 38% Email Reminder
- 28% Public Service Announcement
- 13% Phone Call
How the Economy has Negatively Impacted the Future for Young Americans:
- 77% of young people ages 18-29 either have or will delay a major life change or purchase due to economic factors:
- 44% delay buying a home
- 28% delay saving for retirement
- 27% delay paying off student loans or other debt
- 27% delay going back to school/getting more education or training
- 26% delay changing jobs/cities
- 23% delay starting a family
- 18% delay getting married
ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY
Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow. Generation Opportunity will continue to engage young Americans on issues that impact their lives and the nation as a whole and encourage them through both social media and grassroots organizing to become more civically engaged and make their voices heard.
Generation Opportunity operates on a strategy that combines advanced social media tactics with proven grassroots tactics to reach young Americans 18-29. The organization’s social media platforms – “Being American” on Facebook and “The Constitution” on Facebook – have amassed a total fan base of more than 2 million. Both pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal General Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times , The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.
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