Who Runs the World? #Teens

In a small town in West Virginia, 18-year-old Saira Blair made history in 2014 by becoming the youngest elected state legislator in the United States. Running for office while still a high school senior, Saira didn't let her age deter her ambitions–she wasn’t even old enough to vote when she ran for office at 17! Saira tapped into the power of social media to connect with her constituency, proving that age was just a number when it came to political engagement. Leveraging platforms like Facebook and Twitter, Saira shared her perspectives on fiscal conservatism, education reform, and job creation, engaging with voters in real-time discussions. Her digital strategy paid off; she outmaneuvered her opponents with a grassroots campaign that resonated with her community. Saira's victory in the 2014 elections not only shattered age barriers but also highlighted the changing landscape of political campaigns, where technology and social media have become indispensable tools for connecting with voters and driving change–and where young people can and do make history.

Imagine you were just hired to be the campaign manager for a teenager running for their city or state government. How would you advise them to use the power of technology to boost their campaign and reach out to more people?

Think of 3 innovative or creative ways that this teenager could use technology to help them win. Make sure to give an example for each of the three ideas, describing how the technology would be used to help this teenager (or all teenagers) make their voice heard and help them tap into political power.