As political polarization increases in the United States, students are often caught in the crossfire. Contentious political views often reach students through social media, which may prompt them to respond impulsively and disparagingly. Nevertheless, students should post their political opinions respectfully to ensure productive dialogue and mitigate harm on future prospects.
It is no surprise that students spend a great deal of time online. A 2023 Gallup poll found that 51% of teenagers in the United States spend at least four hours a day on social media, with the average U.S. teenager spending 4.8 hours on social platforms. While social media is not the root cause for political divisiveness, its inherent design to maximize engagement exacerbates it by promoting polarizing content, according to the Brookings Institution.
When prompted with disagreeable posts, many are inclined to respond out of anger, leading to the toxic, violent and hateful discourse that is found online, according to Tulane University. However, students should try to engage with such posts mindfully, according to sophomore Kianaah Bhattacharya.
“Mindful posting [is] basically trying to keep emotions out of it, use as much logical data as [possible] and [respecting the opinions of others],” Bhattacharya said. “It’s also about judging how sources are, especially in the age of AI, we’re getting a lot of random information, so it’s good to verify sources and be critical thinkers.”
While there is merit in expressing political viewpoints, some caution that students should be careful of their online postings. What students post becomes part of their personal brand, and they should be risk-averse on such matters, according to business teacher Robert Stowell.
“What you communicate is your personal brand,” Stowell said. “Even if you say moderately that you’re against Democratic or Republican policies, you are setting your personal brand, and whether you know it or not, that personal brand may help you or hinder you in the future. So you just have to be cautious.”
While it is undeniable that posting online leads to lasting digital footprints, students should not be discouraged from expressing their views. As long as posting does not actively incite violence or harm, students should not feel deterred, according to freshman Logan Pham.
“[If posting is] to the extent that it’s not talking about violence or harming people, then I think it’s fine,” Pham said. “I believe the First Amendment is free speech, and you should be able to speak out about what concerns you, especially what’s going on in the government and how it affects us as young people.”
It is often inevitable that students should find posts they disagree with on social media, and engaging in civil discourse may foster greater productive dialogue. The choice should be up to the student on whether or not they should post their political opinions, but they must take care to do so mindfully. Acting on impulse and posting extreme views may not only damage a student’s future, but also encourage further toxic discourse.
Thoughtfulness and respect of what is said online will make online conversations more welcoming and meaningful while allowing students to express their views in a way that does little to harm their future.
