Young people and politics

A report from Young Scot and Scottish Youth Parliament on young people’s information literacy and political engagement in Scotland

Young people in Scotland have had the right vote from the age of 16 in Scottish Parliament and local government elections since 2015, and in July 2025 the UK Government announced its intention to extend the right to vote to all 16 and 17-year-olds across the UK before the 2029 General Elections.  

As digital media continues to influence how young people consume information, it is more important than ever to understand how they form political views and make decisions. 

Understanding how young people understand politics and access and engage with political information helps ensure they are equipped to take part in democracy confidently and meaningfully.  

With misinformation and disinformation on the rise, it is vital that support for political and information literacy keeps pace with how young people consume content online. 

The Scottish Youth Parliament and Young Scot are working together to better understand how young people access news, information and political content. We are exploring what politics means to young people today, and how this shapes their understanding of key issues, influences their choices, and affects their participation in local and national democracy. 

This report outlines the results of a consultation with over 500 young people aged between 11 and 25 which was carried out between June and September 2025 and makes recommendations to improve young people’s political and information literacy in Scotland.  

This work will help shape future activity, including targeted support ahead of the Scottish Parliament Elections in 2026 and longer-term efforts to strengthen young people’s democratic engagement.