As the European General Elections approach next month, Snapchat has unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at promoting civic participation among E.U. residents. This year's elections hold particular significance as Belgium and Germany have lowered their voting age to 16, joining Austria, Malta, and Greece in extending voting rights to younger citizens.
With voting being compulsory in Belgium and Greece, Snapchat's efforts could play a crucial role in engaging these first-time voters, who may significantly influence the election outcomes.To raise awareness and encourage voter turnout, Snapchat has launched a new AR election Lens in collaboration with the European Parliament.
The Lens, which will be shared with all EU Snapchatters, serves as a reminder to vote and includes a link to the Parliament's election website. While this may seem like a small gesture, Snapchat's track record in driving civic engagement is noteworthy.
In the past, Snapchat has demonstrated its ability to mobilize young voters. During the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, the platform helped over 450,000 U.S. Snapchatters register to vote. This number increased to an impressive 1.2 million in the 2020 elections.
Moreover, research conducted by Democracy Works in 2020 revealed that out of the 450,000 U.S. Snapchatters who registered to vote through Snapchat's TurboVote process in 2018, approximately 57% actually cast their votes in the midterms. This translates to around 260,000 additional votes directly attributable to Snapchat's efforts.
Beyond voter registration, Snapchat has also successfully encouraged increased civic participation by inspiring young people to run for local office. The app's influence and resonance with younger demographics make it a valuable tool in fostering political engagement.
In addition to the AR Lens, Snapchat is collaborating with the European Parliament and European Commission to promote their "Use your vote" information campaign on elections. The platform is also taking proactive measures to combat misinformation and protect the democratic process.
Snapchat has signed the AI Elections Accord alongside other technology companies, pledging to collaborate on tools that detect and limit the spread of AI-generated content designed to deceive voters. The app has also introduced contextual symbols to help users identify Snap-generated AI content and has instructed its AI assistant, My AI, to avoid engaging in political topics.
To further strengthen its fact-checking capabilities, Snapchat has partnered with Logically, a leading fact-checking organization and signatory of the EU Disinformation Code of Practice. This partnership aims to verify the accuracy of political ad statements across the EU.
While Snapchat may not be the first platform that comes to mind when thinking about voter outreach, the recent changes to E.U. voting rules could position it as a significant influencer. Political strategists may increasingly turn to Snapchat to connect with younger voters, making the app's initiatives all the more crucial.
As the European elections draw near, Snapchat's efforts to promote civic engagement and combat misinformation demonstrate the vital role that social media platforms can play in shaping democratic processes. By leveraging its reach and resonance with younger audiences, Snapchat has the potential to drive meaningful change and encourage greater participation in the political sphere.
For businesses and individuals looking to enhance their presence on Snapchat and other social media platforms, services like Great SMM can provide valuable support. As a leading smm panel provider, Great SMM offers a wide range of services, including likes, followers, and comments, to help users increase their visibility and engagement. By combining the power of an smm panel with Snapchat's voter awareness initiatives, businesses and individuals can effectively reach and engage with their target audiences while contributing to the democratic process.