A new Instagram page has been launched to help enable young people to share their views on key issues with the government.
The ‘Involved’ Instagram page aims to be a major step in engaging young people aged 13-25 around decisions made in government, through the use of Instagram’s polling and stories functions. Responses to questions posted on the page and stories will be used in live public consultations and to help wider policy-making decisions in different government departments.
The page will be managed by the British Youth Council, supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and was designed by a group of 30 young people last year.
In the coming weeks, young people will be asked through the page how they feel about the impact of Coronavirus on their lives and what extra help they feel they need right now.
Minister for Civil Society, Baroness Barran said;
“Young people often feel like it is hard to get their voices heard. Involved will give them an easy way to contribute their views on issues that matter to them, helping our decisions as Ministers to reflect these better.
This commitment to involve young people’s views in policy making is part of our ambitious, long-term plan to support them to thrive as we rebuild and recover from the coronavirus outbreak.”
Talking about the new tool, Harley Taylor of the Youth Steering Group said;
“Young people are passionate about seeing social change in their communities and must be able to participate in the decision making of government. Involved will serve as an important opportunity to gauge young people’s views on the hot topics within government.”
The new Instagram page is one way the UK Government is trying to better engage with young people. Last year, a £500 million five year Youth Investment Fund was announced by the Chancellor to support young people into work and to help build new youth centres.
However, in May, leading organisations and youth representatives called on the UK Government to hold a dedicated press conference for young people to answer their questions about the Covid-19 pandemic – something the government has not committed to doing.
