Futures Forum: Election Edition
Ahead of the Swedish 2026 election, IN/LAB wanted to focus our discussion format, Futures Forum, on how young people view news coverage of politics. Together with journalists and high school students from Globala gymnasiet in Stockholm we talked about everything from what constitutes fair election coverage to the influence of social media creators on voting behaviour.
The students were between 18 and 19 years old and eligible to vote for the first time in the upcoming election. Some experiences stood out across the classes we visited:
They can follow a story, but not the bigger picture Students said they can usually understand an individual news story, but struggle to see how one event connects to a bigger picture or context. This is especially true when it comes to local politics, differences between parties and ideological foundations for policy suggestions.
Politicians come across as vague Many felt politicians talk around or avoid questions, focus on what others get wrong, and rarely say concretely what they themselves want to change. Debates were described as a lot of talk, but with little substance and useful information.
It’s easier to know what they don’t want to vote for The information about parties felt unclear to students, and a lot of them rely on the process of elimination. It’s easier to rule certain parties out than to feel confident in which specific party to vote for.
Creators quietly shape opinion Some students expressed concerns about the influence of social media creators and algorithms. Their consistency, relatability and personal touch is seen as a subtle and indirect way of shaping values over time and reinforces what you already think, rather than changing your mind in a single video. The news media is also criticized for commercially motivated, click-bait headlines.
News can leave them feeling powerless News helps students understand society and politics to an extent, but it can also feel very overwhelming and paralysing. Many said the news makes them want to change something for the better, but without making them feel they actually can. A common news request was signs of hope, positive changes, or routes for engagement in a political issue.
Based on these conversations, there are some clear learnings that could be addressed by news media organisations:
Better context: Journalism that helps young people connect the dots and see why an issue matters.
Clearer information about the parties: Accessible formats that explain what parties stand for, how they differ, and what would change if they won.
Local relevance: Making local politics visible and clearly tied to young people’s everyday lives.
Making influence visible: Helping young people see how politicians, creators and algorithms shape opinion ahead of an election.
Transparency about editorial choices: Being open about how newsrooms decide what gets covered, how it’s angled, and what gets left out.
Hope and a way to act: Not only reporting problems, but showing what can actually be influenced, and how young people can take part.
Futures Forum exists to make space for exactly these conversations: to listen to young people who are often talked about, but rarely asked. Thank you to the students and teachers at Globala gymnasiet, and to the journalists who joined us!