How Do You Compare?

The Youth of America: The Future of Democracy

Who Is "The Youth"?

• Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 — all 44 million
• The largest and most diverse demographicDemographic - A portion of a population.
  www.dictionary.com in the United States
• Currently represent more than 21% of the current electorateElectorate - The body of persons entitled to vote in an election.
  www.dictionary.com , and by 2015 will grow to become 1/3 of the electorate

The Digital Generation

Us 18 to 20-somethings have grown up with our own laptops, smartphones, and we google just about everything. And, admit it — you update your Facebook before getting ready for school and text from under your desk in class. Sound familiar? Well, you're not alone.

• 93% have a cell phone
• 88% are online regularly
• 37% use Twitter or another status-updating site
• 73% have a Facebook page
• 48% have a MySpace Page
• 14% use LinkedIn
• 36% consult wikipedia (when we should probably be consulting our textbooks)

1. Brown, Graham. (2008). Mobile Youth Social Media. Retrieved from: http://www.slideshare.net/mobileyouth/mobile-youth-social-media-presentation
2. The Pew Research Center for the People & The Press. (2007a). A Portrait of Generation Next – How Young People View Their Lives, Future & Politics. Retrieved from: http://people-press.org/report/300/a-portrait-of-generation-next