Social media and how it shapes students' political ideas
Boston University
Increased Media, Biased Opinions
MARCH 30, 2026
Every minute, thousands of political videos are posted on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. With this increase in coverage of political news, EBHS students have greater access to political information; however, this information can be biased or untrue, causing rapidly changing opinions.
With the greater accessibility to political information, students have been able to stay informed about day-to-day life, with short, easily understood videos. Additionally, students are becoming more politically aware at younger ages and beginning to form their own opinions. This political awareness, however, does not always mean accurate information or understanding.
Increased media coverage might provide a large amount of information, but not all of it is clear or accurate.
EBHS student Elmah Meer said, “Students may misinterpret information,” which can lead to “extreme political opinions,” especially when topics are complex or presented in a biased way.
Misinterpretation can directly shape how opinions are formed: students may be overconfident in weakly supported beliefs, or conversely, they may be overwhelmed, leading them to form no opinion at all. Additionally, due to algorithms, students may only see one viewpoint on an issue, making it harder to see different perspectives and truly form a complete opinion.
Constant updates and new information can fuel overwhelming feelings and contribute to “rapidly changing political opinions as more and more information regarding a topic comes out,” as former EBHS student Malia Yedan stated.
Students may shift their viewpoints frequently without fully understanding the topic, which can ultimately lead to a weaker commitment to politics and political ideas.
Overall, increased media coverage has its ups and downs, but the most important thing is to form opinions you truly align with and believe in, supported by proper evidence and critical thinking.
