Millennials are active, “digital” people and play a decisive role in the present and future of the country. However, their apathy for politics worries parties that should redouble their efforts to try to win tis population’s interest in the 2018 elections.
The millennium generation goes from 18-to-35-year-old people. According to data from the Supreme Court of Elections, millennials represent 40% of the electoral roll, an important figure for any candidate for the presidency.
But despite having the key tools that would allow them to contribute, many are characterized by their disappointment regarding traditional Costa Rican politics.
22-year-old student Gino Jiménez said that he won’t be part of the next voting process because he does not feel that political parties include young people.
Like Gino, many millennials have adopted an attitude of nonconformity towards the political situation of the country: tired of repeated promises and unfinished proposals, they decide not to vote.
In 2014 elections, abstention was the great winner: 32%.
According to sociologist and professor of the Technological Institute (TEC) Kathia Franceschi, the millennials’ apathy may be related to a lack of attachment to public policies.
Powerful social networks
There are millennials who are unhappy with the current scenario; however, a small group is looking for tools that empower young people to make policy through the use of technology.
Social networks have become one of the main means to attract this generation. Political parties are trying to use digital spaces to convey their ideas and capture the interest of this group.
This generation accesses political content through mobile devices and computers. Thus, they have a more personalized consumption: each one chooses how, when and where to receive political information.
Sociologist and independent consultant Eduardo Arguedas thinks that millennials have more information, but they are also more critical of democracy and its institutions, so it will not be a simple task to win the young vote, which will be decisive in the next elections.