The rapid advancement of technology in today’s society contains a series of ramifications attached to the progress, one of them being the onslaught of Social Media usage. Common Sense media reports “Nine out of 10 (90%) 13- to 17-year-olds have used some form of social media”, indicating the extent to which these social networking sites have an impact on this generation. Twitter is arguably one of the most influential of these internet platforms, due to the ease in which its users can access the tweets of others, and garner information and opinions regarding events that occur in real life. The amount of young users who are active on this app foster an atmosphere where the majority of millennials currently alive are exposed to new ideas shared by others, and are given the opportunity to post their own thoughts with just a click of a button.

This app has been proven to hold a significant role in how young adults form their thoughts and opinions on significant social, economic, and political issues. Van R. Newkirk explains a way in which Twitter is able to have such a far-reaching influence, in  the article “The American Dream in 14 Seconds”, writing “Research has shown the power of […] Twitter in using redundant messaging and an intense but often informal system of signal amplification to share messages and calls to action”. Because of this app’s ability to allow its users to tweet information that has the potential to reach thousands, more people are inclined to join Twitter and become a part of this online, worldwide conversation. An article written by Chanelle Ignant titled “How Does Social Media Shape Our Political Views” expands upon this idea, arguing “Social media allows us to view political news and participate in political discussion like never before.” People, specifically teens, who have previously been excluded from political debates, can now actively be a part of a discussion with those with all different types of beliefs. While many have only been shown the beliefs of their parents regarding certain social issues before, they can  now log onto their account and gain more knowlege about other view points.

Social Media allows this generation with a way to let their voice be heard in a way they have never been able to before. The ease in which this generation can access opinions and ideas of others has a tremendous impact on how their young minds are influenced and formed.