Facebook Makes Millennials More Likely to Vote

A survey released Dec. 20 shows that Facebook messages may be the most effective way to get young people to the polls.

According to the survey, commissioned by the nonprofit group Generation Opportunity and conducted by inc./Woman Trend, 66 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said they’d be most likely to vote when reminded through Facebook messages. Meanwhile, 58 percent said text messages would be the best way to reach them. Only 38 percent said e-mail messages would get them to the polls, followed by 28 percent who preferred public service announcements and 13 percent who preferred phone calls.

“Our data underscores the ongoing power of social media and text messaging among the generation hardest hit by record unemployment and the poor economy,” said Generation Opportunity President Paul T. Conway. “Young adults use these technologies daily to discuss how the economy has delayed their futures and how to manage their lives in the midst of very little economic opportunity.”

Another part of the same survey showed that 69 percent of respondents believe the current leaders in federal government fail to represent their interests.