One in five British teenagers hide political views over fears of being cancelled

Nearly a quarter said they had been told to stop discussing politics at school.

The findings come as the Government pushes ahead with plans to give 16-year-olds the vote through the Representation of the People Bill.

However, despite the proposal, 44 per cent of older teenagers admit they would feel unprepared to cast a ballot.

Tiffany Smyly, chief growth officer at the foundation, warned the trend risks driving young people into more extreme online spaces.

“If teenagers are worried about being cancelled, then they are not going to be sharing their viewpoints at school or with friends,” she said.

“Instead, they are likely to go into chat rooms or forums that do allow them to share a fringe opinion, and that might be where their views become more extreme.”

The survey found the cost of living is the top concern for young people, cited by 70 per cent of 15 to 17-year-olds and 58 per cent of younger pupils.

The respondents ranked health in second place.

Helen Blachford, a citizenship and PSHE lead, said many teenagers are directly experiencing financial pressures.

“They might have real, tangible experience of the cost of living on a day-to-day basis which would affect their voting choices,” she said.

Despite concerns, interest in politics remains high, with 65 per cent of older teenagers saying they would feel more confident voting if they had a better understanding of party policies.

Flora Letanka, chief executive of the foundation, warned: “Young people are curious about politics, but the worry is that if they don’t have the opportunity to engage and debate on topics that matter to them, then they may turn to social media which can be very polarising.

“Instead, we need to ensure young people are given the chance to think critically about what’s going on in the world, to explore different perspectives, and see the real impact of political decisions on the people around them.”

Julie George, a teacher at Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy in Stoke-on-Trent, said the research highlights a lack of confidence among Britain’s youth.

She told the Independent: “Many older teenagers are self-aware and realise they don’t know enough about politics and are unsure how to express their views without offending others.

“Students want to be able to talk about the big political issues of the day, but in a supportive environment where they can learn to share ideas.”

Labour’s Representation of the People Bill is currently at committee stage in the House of Commons, with a sitting scheduled for Thursday.

Across Britain, a 2021 YouGov survey found a majority of people (57 per cent) have felt unable to express their views over fears of judgement or negative reactions from others.

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