Date on Honors Thesis

Spring 5-2025

Major

Chemistry/Pre-Medical

Minor

Psychology; Political Science

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Sean Rife, Advisor

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Amanda Joyce, Committee Member

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Drew Seib, Committee Member

Abstract/Description

Despite the Democratic belief that new generations would usher in a more successful era for the party, the 2024 presidential election saw the Republican Party candidate win the popular vote for the first time in two decades. Both Harris and Trump continued the trend of using social media to appeal to young voters, relying heavily on the use of digital platforms and new media to cater to their target audiences. But their approaches varied drastically, reflecting the patterns of political engagement and activity of young Millennial and Generation Z voters, and their successes and failures served as evidence of the divide between young male and female voters. Largely, this work aims to better understand the gender gap in the political psychology of young voters in the United States. More specifically, it will examine the political ideologies and opinions and their influence on voting patterns of voters under 30 years old and the seemingly right-ward shift in young male voters. Additionally, it will examine the impact of social media and influencers on the political psyche of young voters, including how they affected what issues were deemed most important to new voters and which candidates received political support and how.

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