vInspired Live Launches the #ChangeSomething Campaign
One in three young Brits aged 16–21 believe the best way to make a difference to a campaign they care about is online and through social media, rather than protesting on the streets.
Our research shows that Britain’s youth think an innovative approach to collective action is required to make a change both locally and globally. One in three (37%) digital activists use their mobile to support a campaign they care about and 84% share their cause on social media to increase awareness.
This group of mini ‘@ctivists’ have already been actively campaigning online on Facebook and Twitter, with 52% admitting to supporting at least one cause on social media in the last year, with the average young activist supporting four causes.
After showing their support digitally, more than two in three (62%) took their support one step further, with one in seven (13%) volunteering time and 15% also donating money to the campaign they care about.
The top causes for the nation’s youth to campaign for online were revealed as bullying and discrimination (36%), animal rights and welfare (25%), and homelessness and poverty (21%).
The new research coincides with the launch of vInspired Live launches the #ChangeSomething campaign that is calling on Britain’s youth to campaign for the cause they care the most about.
By putting forward an idea about what they would like to change in a day to vInspired Live – it’s time to #ChangeSomething, they could potentially be naming the cause that is championed at vInspired’s inaugural event at London’s Roundhouse on July 6th.
The study found that 29% of young people in the UK feel that high unemployment is the most pressing issue affecting the country, far ahead of terrorism (8%). Lack of job opportunities remains the top issue Britain’s youth would like changed, with one in four (28%) of 16–21-year-olds wishing for a positive resolution.
It was followed by tuition fee costs (15%) and being unable to ever buy their own home (13%) as the issues they’d like to see resolved. The nation’s next generation is more in touch with current affairs than ever before.
“Young people have always been at the forefront of social change. Their creativity, passion, and energy is truly world-changing. And digital technology has made it easier than ever to harness all that energy to create positive change. Even elections are already being won and lost through the power of social media. We want young people to understand this power and learn to use it to do something about the things they really care about.”
This poll by vInspired is part of a wider research project on young people’s digital engagement and social action that will be released later this year.
vInspired Live takes place at the Roundhouse, London on 6th July. To find out more and to enter your idea to ‘Change Something’, visit vInspired Live launches the #ChangeSomething campaign.