Adolescent civic engagement: Lessons from Black Lives Matter

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Developmental Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Adolescent involvement in social movements, such as the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, has been noted.
• Previous research suggested increasing youth participation, but large-scale quantitative data on adolescents' experiences were lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess the extent of adolescents' exposure to and engagement with Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations.
• To examine adolescents' emotional responses and experiences related to the BLM movement.

Main Methods:

• A large-scale quantitative survey was conducted with 4,970 adolescents across the United States.
• Data collected included age (mean = 12.88 years), media exposure, emotional responses, and in-person experiences with BLM demonstrations.

Main Results:

• Adolescents reported high engagement with the BLM movement, especially via media, and generally experienced positive emotions.
• Black adolescents reported higher levels of negative emotions when engaging with media related to BLM.
• Black adolescents also reported greater exposure to violence during in-person BLM demonstrations compared to other youth.

Conclusions:

• Adolescents are significantly engaged with the BLM movement, demonstrating a strong connection through media and positive emotional responses.
• Specific attention is needed for Black adolescents who report heightened negative emotions and exposure to violence, highlighting disparities in experiences.
• Supporting youth civic engagement and providing resources for processing complex emotional experiences are crucial for adolescent well-being and societal health.