Tuning Out of Politics Isn't an Option

As political polarization intensifies across social media and on college campuses, many students are disengaging — not because they don’t care, but because they feel overwhelmed by the noise.

When keeping up with national politics feels more exhausting than empowering, civic engagement offers students a way to remain politically present without losing themselves in endless cycles of doomscrolling and negativity.

Creating accessible spaces for participation — on campus, online and in the classroom — can help students reclaim their roles as active participants in our democracy rather than reject them.

Constant exposure to political news can make you cynical, but civic engagement replaces passive observation with a sense of agency.

“If you don’t have any framework for understanding what you can do, you can feel very demoralized,” political science professor Sara Rushing said.

It can be common for students who are balancing full course loads, work and personal responsibilities to view politics as irrelevant. That gap between relevance and participation is something that civic organizers target to encourage involvement.

“What we consider large-scale issues are applicable in every part of our lives,” said Evangelia Minadakis. Minadakis is a member of MSU’s chapter of the nationwide organization Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), which she described as a left-leaning, action-oriented student group.

If politics are inescapable, we must find accessible ways to participate rather than disengaging.

Sophomore history student Owen Adams explained a concept that some refer to as “slacktivism,” which is liking, reposting and promoting political content on social media without taking real-world action.

Critics of slacktivism argue that online activism is insufficient and does not create tangible change. I once shared that skepticism, but I may have overlooked the positive role that digital platforms can play in civic engagement.

Adams said he gets most of his information about current events from social media platforms like Instagram. He said that social media activism can foster awareness and conversation among friends and followers.

According to Adams, his view of online activism has shifted over time, as he now views it as an effective way to spread awareness.

“It changed from slacktivism to more being politically active, because you’re trying to get it out to people,” he said. “I think also being politically active is following along, and knowing what’s happening.”

Minadakis said that social media activism allows information to reach a broad audience. “You’ve got no idea if that’s going to show up on someone’s feed and they’re going to go, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve never heard of that,’” she said.

However, while social media can be an accessible starting point, students also need intentional ways to participate in democracy beyond the screen.

“I think it’s important to learn traits of citizenship as we grow up so that when it becomes important, we know what we’re doing,” Rushing said.

According to her, it is important to create a judgment-free space where students aren’t afraid to share their opinions. Democratic participation can begin in the classroom, and it's necessary that students feel comfortable enough to speak their mind.

“[People] won’t take those risks if they think their peers will cancel them or blackball them for that,” Rushing said. “It takes courage, it takes respect, it takes operating in good faith with someone that you don’t like or trust, it takes restraint, it takes patience, and it takes charitable listening.”

Civic engagement develops through practice, whether it happens in classrooms, on campus or through everyday involvement. Minadakis said that there are opportunities for civic engagement at every level, and it’s really about meeting people where they’re comfortable.

“I do view civic engagement as a massive outlet because it is one of the only tangible things that you can do,” Minadakis said.

It can be intimidating — and sometimes outright terrifying — to voice your personal opinions. Sustained action, such as attending political meetings, volunteering or sharing views in safe spaces, is a promising way to block out the noise of overwhelming information.

Finding a value, event, political topic or virtually anything you really care about is an important first step in getting involved.

“Just show up and do it, because showing up builds the knowledge you need to be more effective,” Rushing said.

Engage with content meaningfully, and bring that civic participation to reality. We can’t let anxiety silence our democratic voices, so let’s find meaningful ways to participate that work for our needs.

“Do your homework, come informed, but then, you know, come with a spirit of curiosity and courage,” Rushing said.