There is a common assumption that young people are disengaged from democratic processes and decision-making. The reality is more complex. Many are willing to participate but the way they are asked to engage often does not fit their lives.
Public bodies are working harder to involve citizens in shaping policies and services. Yet reaching people, particularly younger audiences remains a persistent challenge. Declining trust among younger cohorts affects falling civic participation, particularly when people feel disconnected from institutions and from each other, according to the Standard Eurobarometer data which measures levels of trust in government within the EU.
Barriers to participation are often practical as much as attitudinal. Time constraints, accessibility, and relevance all influence whether people take part. If engagement feels distant, time-consuming or disconnected from everyday life, it is easy to opt out.
Reaching seldom heard audiences adds a further layer of complexity. Traditional methods do not always create the conditions for inclusive participation. At the same time, expectations are changing. Digital engagement is reshaping how people want to interact with decision-making. People increasingly expect to contribute in ways that are flexible, accessible and responsive.
Rethinking youth participation
Young people are often described as disengaged. But this framing overlooks a more important question: are engagement approaches designed with them in mind?
Effective participation depends on confidence and capability. People need to feel that they can contribute meaningfully, feel confident in their knowledge, and that their voices will be heard. Without this, even well-designed engagement processes can struggle to build momentum. Our work with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre focused on evaluating youth deliberation in EU biodiversity policymaking at the Youth Citizens Assembly on Pollinators. The evaluation demonstrated that not only do youth assemblies build knowledge, confidence and engagement, but also what conditions are needed for this to happen in a meaningful way.
Furthermore, there is a growing shift from consultation to co-creation. Rather than asking for feedback at the end of a process, co-creation involves people earlier – shaping ideas, exploring trade-offs and contributing to solutions.
Verian’s Singapore team collaborated with the Minister of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the National Youth Council (NYC) to build the capabilities of four youth-led panels to encourage youth participation in decision making. Young people worked with the government to co-create and shape policies in areas close to their hearts. With nearly 120 young people in the youth panel, they became better equipped to embark on their respective journeys to focus on their policy area and develop solutions.
Shifting from respondents to partners
No single method can meet all participation needs. The most effective approaches combine multiple ways for people to engage.
This often includes a mix of:
- Deliberation, where participants explore issues in depth
- Research, to understand attitudes, behaviours and experiences
- Co-creation, to develop ideas collaboratively
- Digital participation, to increase accessibility and flexibility
Blending these approaches allows engagement to meet people where they are. It also helps create a more inclusive and representative process.
Our work on Generation Germany highlighted the necessity to make democracy sustainable through personal encounters and deliberative dialogue through a democracy festival. It was able to show that constructive discussions in personal encounters can significantly strengthen young people's confidence in democracy and their willingness to get involved.
“I feel much more strongly that my opinion matters and that it counts. As a result, I participate more actively in discussions, for example at university when debating how the university should be organised in the future.” – Respondent from Generation Germany festival
The impact of Generation Germany extended well beyond the event itself. Six months later, many participants still reported lasting changes in how they approach democratic dialogue and civic life. Young people described being more open to different perspectives, more confident in expressing their views, and more interested in political discussions and democratic participation.
For younger audiences, combining face-to-face and digital engagement is key. In-person discussion can build trust and depth, while digital channels offer convenience and wider reach.
Blended engagement models – bringing together online and offline participation – are central to this shift
They offer the potential to:
- Reduce practical barriers to participation
- Reach a broader range of voices
- Support deeper, more meaningful dialogue
- Create a clearer link between participation and decision-making
At the same time, there is a continued need to invest in building confidence and capability. Participation is not just about providing opportunities – it is about enabling people to take part.
Conclusion
Citizen engagement is evolving. The question is no longer whether to engage, but how to do it in a way that reflects how people live, communicate and contribute.
For younger generations, this means moving beyond traditional consultation towards more flexible, inclusive and collaborative models of participation.
Organisations that adapt will be better placed to reach new audiences, build trust, and make decisions that reflect the needs of the people they serve.
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