High school is supposed to be a place where teenagers explore new ideas, find friends, and enjoy the final years of their youth. However, what was once a place where differences were simply part of growing up has now become a battlefield of opinions. A single comment in a class, group chat, or even a shirt that contains the “wrong” message can spark arguments or hurt feelings that can last for days. The political spectrum has divided many high schoolers, turning friends into opponents. For teenagers, this can be a recipe for disaster.
A major contributor to the shift in political dynamics among teenagers is the growth of social media. The grip that TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) have on this generation has allowed the idea of affective polarization to seep into the minds of teenagers. This idea is a feeling among people that they should “hate the other side.” This is dangerous, as teenagers are still developing their individual ideologies, yet many are already hating their peers’ opinions just because of what they are listening to on social media.
As a liberal high school student, I often find myself frustrated by what I hear in today’s political climate. At a recent memorial in Arizona, President Donald Trump said, “I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them.” This speech was circulated throughout social media. These words were all over TikTok, but also echoed through the halls of ETHS. I overheard some of my friends and peers outraged at what the president had said about liberals, and in many cases, there seemed to be an assumption that this is what all conservatives must believe about “the other side.” Tensions were high, and people let their feelings fuel their hate towards another group of people. This is no different from when I make assumptions about conservative ideas based on my own media bubble. People let outrage take over and seemed to be only using the talking points they heard directly from social media, as opposed to thinking more critically about the situation. From my experience, the best way to navigate political opinions with your friends is to focus on finding common ground rather than stereotyping them based on their beliefs.
With that in mind, there is a difference between making an argument and actually putting it into action. I will admit that after having countless arguments over politics with my friends, I often struggle to find common ground. I think this is partly because when I have debates with them, I often do so with the intention of trying to change their point of view rather than simply informing them. We’ve been taught by society that debates are for the purpose of persuading someone to join your side, but more often than not, you aren’t going to change your friend’s views when it comes to politics. That doesn’t mean debates are bad; at their best, they can be thoughtful, eye-opening, and even strengthen relationships. But only if both sides are really listening. This is why this idea is so counterintuitive. The key is understanding that the way we debate our friends is often not healthy, and this just leads to unnecessary tensions within a group. That said, there isn’t any conflict when we talk about sports, go to the beach, or we are grabbing food together.. You aren’t always going to agree with someone, but being able to find something you enjoy and share it with them is what friendship is all about. However, emotional stakes are real. Many teens are dealing with issues that affect their lives (identity, safety, representation), so when people respond by saying, “don’t take politics so seriously,” it’s important to be mindful that not everyone has this luxury. This is something to be cautious about whenever discussing politics.
New York Times author David Litt summarizes this idea perfectly in his article, “Is It Time to Stop Snubbing Your Right-Wing Family?” “My advice is always the same. Our differences are meaningful, but allowing them to mean everything is part of how we ended up here. When we cut off contacts or let algorithms sort us into warring factions, we forget that not so long ago, we used to have things to talk about that didn’t involve politics.”
Listen, I am no expert on this topic, but being a teenager today feels like being in the eye of a political storm. And honestly, I am starting to realize politicians want it to feel this way. They want us to fight and hate each other. We shouldn’t give in to the system that they want to fabricate. Letting politics get in the way of friendships means their manipulations are becoming a reality. Every year, society seems to grow more accepting of hating others based on their stance on policies. We need to put an end to this idea. Being able to find common ground with someone lets us realize that people’s identities are deeper than just a political label.
