On three occasions recently, I was asked to share my “political pet peeve” or “political hot take,” here it is: today, it’s embarrassing for someone to be apathetic about the world around them. To be clear, I’m not saying that anyone who doesn’t have an obsessive relationship with reading the news is politically apathetic. However, I am saying that someone who doesn’t know who the current sitting President of the United States is apathetic.
Political apathy isn’t just some innocent oversight—it’s an irresponsible disuse of privileges. Whether you like it or not, politics are everywhere, and one could argue (maybe I will) that everything is political on some level. Not knowing what is happening in the world is just as politically apathetic as not knowing what’s happening in your domestic political sphere.
Is ignorance really bliss? Today, I would argue that ignorance is almost always just laziness in disguise. As students at a university that emphasizes intellectual and spiritual growth, we should be able to critically examine how political engagement influences our lives and those around us. We can’t afford to fall into the trap of political apathy. With the information we have at our fingertips, from our phones, the 24/7 news cycle available on all forms of media, to the resources BYU provides, not knowing what’s happening in the world is a comfortable choice but embarrassing nonetheless.
Additionally, I think this disengagement is particularly concerning at a school funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the Church remains politically neutral1, it calls on its members2 to be informed and active participants in their communities and governments. We are responsible for knowing what’s happening to make informed, conscientious decisions. How are we supposed to be our brother’s keeper3 if we don’t understand the issues that are currently happening all over?
When we don’t understand these issues and when we choose to be apathetic, there are real consequences that can affect both us and others around us. For example, the Washington Post4 has pointed out that the U.S. voter turnout problem isn’t just due to voter suppression—it’s mainly due to apathy. People aren’t avoiding the polls because they can’t vote but because they don’t care. The Pew Research Center5 found that only about 60% of the voting-age population voted in the past few national elections, low compared6 to other democracies. In a handful of states in 2018, voter turnout reached record lows7. When we allow ourselves to disengage from the political process, we aren’t just withholding our vote but giving up our voice in shaping the world around us.
This apathetic mindset is dangerous. For many worldwide, political engagement isn’t a choice; it’s a necessity or a dream. In the U.S., political apathy often comes from the assumption that your life won’t be impacted by who holds power or which policies are enacted. However, people in other parts of the world fight daily for the rights some Americans take for granted. They don’t have the luxury of disengagement, or they don’t even have the choice to be engaged. While a third of eligible U.S. voters didn’t participate in the 2020 election8, those in more oppressive regimes can only dream of such freedom.
While this can be seen across most demographics in the United States, this kind of apathy is especially prevalent among young people. Multiple studies and research groups have observed that young adults are especially vulnerable9 to political disillusionment and apathy. They often feel that their participation doesn’t matter, that the system is too broken to fix or isn’t worth trusting10, and that the cost of being informed is too high.
There’s the common excuse that people are “too busy” or that politics and current events are “too messy.” I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard someone say they avoid the news because it makes them sad. I understand that keeping up with politics and world events can be exhausting. I have a job that requires me to read the news constantly. It’s tiring, and I’ve cried over devastating news stories and will most likely cry again. However, this disengagement allows unchecked political manipulation and corruption to flourish.
When we choose not to know, we’re handing power over to those willing to make decisions on our behalf—decisions that affect us whether we like it or not. The news being sad doesn’t give us a pass to check out. Political ignorance and apathy are not neutral stances—they benefit those already in power. As The Atlantic11 notes, staying engaged isn’t just about fear—it’s about responsibility. We must care enough to vote, advocate for change, and hold our leaders accountable.
For us in the younger generation, the stakes are even higher. We are being prepared to become leaders in our communities, professions, and families. But we can’t fulfill those roles if we don’t understand the world we’re entering. Political apathy isn’t an option for those called to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause12.”
Being politically informed doesn’t require hours of scrolling through bad news or debating every policy decision. Still, it does mean understanding key issues like economic inequality, healthcare, climate change, and civil rights. Staying informed is essential for protecting our rights and shaping a world rooted in justice, equity, and opportunity for all. Ignorance is no longer an acceptable excuse; it’s time to step up, pay attention, and take our responsibilities seriously. If we don’t, we risk losing the very freedoms that allow us the luxury of disengagement in the first place.
