Youth Lack Community Connections that Are Critical to Civic Engagement

Posted by Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement on March 24, 2026

Past Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) research has examined the importance of community connections to civic and political participation. We’ve also heard directly from young people about how valuable opportunities to connect are, especially in the absence of third spaces where young people can build community. Civic life is tied up in young people’s social and community lives, and understanding how young people are building community is vital for mapping pathways to civic participation and belonging.

At the same time, social structures and norms are still recalibrating in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which interrupted important periods of development for today’s youth. To understand the impact that may be having on youth civic engagement, we asked young people in our 2024 post-election survey about their in-person interactions with their community. While online communities and interactions have been important ways for young people to explore their identities, develop civically, and use their voices, online and in-person interactions don’t have equal and universally positive effects on well-being. Notably, some research suggests that in-person connections have stronger positive impacts (Kroencke et al, 2023).

This analysis furthers our understanding of young people’s in-person interactions and how they intersect with their civic behaviors and attitudes, ultimately demonstrating the urgency of supporting pathways for young people to build these connections and communities.

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