If all ages are influenced by misinformation, should there be any age limits on voting?

Additional Pressure on Young Generations

Should the voting age get lowered? This is the question I am going to be answering today.

The Conventions on the Rights of the Child recognizes the civil and political rights of children. However, as per the UNICEF, it is also argued that younger audience might be easily manipulated. With the dominance of social media platforms and the power of influencers and celebrities in shaping the opinion of young audience, I believe that the right to vote should stay at the age of 18.

Although all age groups might be influenced by misinformation or are prone to manipulation. Lowering the voting age adds additional pressure on younger age groups as they do not have the same experience and resilience that adults might have developed over the years. At the same time, UNICEF research showed that children reported feeling unable to judge the accuracy and reliability of the information they encounter online.

Additionally, lowering the voting age may make the young audience a target of political campaigns, which might not always be honest in presenting their agenda. This might add additional pressure on younger generations.

Finally, research shows that older adults tend to handle stress better than younger people. As per National Geography article, Adolescents are experiencing rising rates of obesity and mental health struggles, while also grappling with the influence of digital technologies and a destabilized global climate. They highlighted the fact that while digital technologies unlock immense opportunities, they can also expose young people to misinformation, cyberbullying, and disturbing content, while increasing social isolation and physical inactivity.

In conclusion, while young audience might have the cognitive and critical thinking capabilities, voting age interrelates with other variables, like access to relevant information and being vulnerable to manipulation. This would add additional pressure on younger generations in a transitioning stage and in a world that already adds a lot of pressure on them. So I think the voting age should stay the same.