The 2020 election is now over, and many people think they can just go back into their bubble and keep playing video games and scrolling on Instagram. However, it is still important to stay politically active past major elections. While they may be important, they are not the only things impacting your future and the world around you. Here are some ways to stay politically active year-round.

• Stay up to date on the current events by reading articles and watching videos—even though the election is over, that doesn’t mean that we should stop paying attention to the news and politics that are still taking place.
• Make sure to go to multiple sources to get a wide variety of information from different perspectives. Here are some possible news sources:
  • Associated Press is a neutral news agency that covered the election and covers other news.
  • Reuters is a great, neutral website to get news from; their video section explains current events in a simple, clean and unbiased way.
  • The New York Times is another great source for news; it is left-center-leaning, but it is known to have high-quality reporting.
  • Fox News is another useful source; it is largely right-leaning.
  • CNN is a mostly left-leaning source that is informative.
  • MSNBC is another largely left-leaning source.
  • The Wall Street Journal is a center-right highly respected news source.
• Broaden your scope and look at sources not based in the United States. Here are a few:
  • BBC News is a great, unbiased source based in the UK.
  • Al Jazeera is a left-center-leaning source based in the Middle East.
  • Radio Free Europe is a neutral source based in the Czech Republic.
• Do you already have a favorite source to get your news from? Check Media Bias Fact Check and see how biased that news source is. This can encourage you to broaden your scope; however, it does not mean to stop visiting that website.
• Search up political candidates and current political leaders; see what their opinions on certain policies are, and decide whether you agree with them or not.
• Have important conversations about politics with family and friends; people who are very politically informed can teach you new things, and others who are not can learn from you.
• Have friendly debates and discussions about politics with people who might not fully agree with you; you may learn something new or connect with someone.
• Ask questions; don’t be afraid to reach out and ask any questions you might have because it shows your interest and curiosity about the world around you, whether it affects you or not.
• Follow political leaders on social media; this way you can keep up to date with what they are working on. Don’t only follow politicians that you agree with, however, and make sure to follow a few people you might not agree with to know what information both sides are receiving.
• Follow unbiased news outlet accounts on social media to learn more in a simple and enjoyable way. You can quickly and easily share and repost the information to show others what you are learning.
• Be aware that even though social media is a great way to get news and that it is something everyone uses, it may not be completely reliable. When you do encounter claims on social media platforms, research it before believing or re-posting it. This will also help others stay informed.
• Research is your best friend when you want to learn about politics and the world!