Engage.ch

Democracy

Digital democracy: helping young internet users engage in political debate

Smartphones and new media influence the everyday lives of young people in almost all respects. However, access to traditional political participation via these channels is still largely unavailable. The multimedia platform engage.ch connects with young users in their everyday life. They can use text, images and videos to communicate their concerns and demands, as well as post, discuss and vote online. Politicians and youth parliamentarians can view these concerns and address them. The platform was launched in 2014 and more than 1,000 requests have since been submitted by young people. In 2017 the campaign “Change Switzerland” was conducted in order to collect additional concerns. As a result, over 700 requests from young people were received over five weeks. The eleven youngest members of the national parliament were invited to select a request, meet the young authors of these requests, and decide together how they could be answered.