UEA expert says politicians need to improve how they engage with the next generation
New research shows 70% of young people don't know the name of their local MP
An education expert from a university in Norfolk is telling us that politicians need to improve how they engage with the next generation.
It's as work from a research agency is claiming that 70% of young people they've spoke to don't know the name of their local MP.
"A combination that leads some people down quite worrying avenues"
Dr Harry Dyer is from the University of East Anglia: "Young people know what matters to them, they need to know why local MPs matter and what they can do for them.
"We have seen some MPs do well in online spaces, but there's still more that needs to be done when it comes to improving their presence where young people are.
"There's also a real need for these platforms to be far more transparent about how they push young people down certain avenues or how their algorithms might present certain narratives.
"We're also seeing that there's a lot of information shared online, that isn't the most accurate. With there being heavy mixes of opinion, analysis and independent research.
"It's a combination that leads some people down quite worrying avenues."
The research in more detail:
The polling carried out by Opinium in February of 2,000 eight to 17-year-olds found that 44% of them get their political news from YouTube or TikTok.
Over half (51%) cited family as a source of political information and 41% put TV news.
Some 39% of young people said they do not understand what politicians do, the research findings suggested.
The mass-scale election for children, launched by a coalition of charities under the campaign Our Generation Our Vote in March.
The full results are expected to be announced on June 28 - a week ahead of the General Election.
"Young people currently feel overlooked"
The coalition - which includes Save the Children, Girlguiding, and Young Citizens - they say aim to make political education available to young people through "credible, unbiased, curriculum-linked resources in participating schools and youth settings, with a focus on reaching those from marginalised communities".
Meg Briody, head of child and youth participation at Save the Children UK, said: "With three weeks to go until the General Election, now is a crucial time for children's voices to be heard.
"The results of our research reveal how young people currently feel overlooked by politicians. The polling shows us the need for political literacy projects like 'Our Generation. Our Vote' to engage young people in democracy and our political processes.
"We've teamed up with some of the UK's leading youth organisations to create an opportunity to platform young people's views, particularly from young people that have felt unrepresented in political spaces."