Politicians Vie for Gen Z Vote on TikTok Amid Shifting Youth Political Views
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Around 640,000 young Israelis, representing ten Knesset seats, are set to vote for the first time soon. Politicians are focusing on TikTok and influencers to reach this demographic. Commentator Lior Schleien noted a trend of youth leaning right due to fear and anger, influenced by recent national crises.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 640,000 young Israelis will vote for the first time, representing 10 Knesset seats.
- Politicians are targeting Gen Z voters on TikTok and via social media influencers.
- Polls suggest a complex link between online success and voting intentions.
- Commentator Lior Schleien observed youth leaning right due to fear and anger.
- Recent national crises are seen as factors influencing young voters' political leanings.
Approximately 640,000 young Israelis will vote for the first time in an upcoming election, representing an electoral force equivalent to ten Knesset seats. Politicians are actively targeting this demographic on platforms like TikTok and through social media influencers. However, recent polls and engagement data suggest a complex relationship between online popularity, support for the right-wing, and actual voting behavior.
Commentator Lior Schleien has been engaging with teenagers in schools and pre-military academies over the past year, discussing politics and the nation's future, and sharing recordings of these encounters online. In an August video titled "Is the youth really right-wing, ignorant, and violent?", a secular girl questioned him about this perception. Schleien acknowledged the significant challenges faced by young people in recent years, including the pandemic, repeated elections, the judicial overhaul, and the ongoing war, which have created educational and social crises. He concluded that he observes young people generally leaning right, driven by fear and anger, and finds this trend understandable and natural.
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