Want to try our resources? Sign up for our 14-Day Free Trial

Demo & Training
Business & Organisations
Terms & Conditions

Is global politics relevant to you?

09th - 16th January 2026

Back to results

66613

Total votes

13208

5-11 votes

53405

11-16+ votes

Over recent weeks, global events have dominated the news, with flurries of concerning stories making headlines from Venezuela to Switzerland to the Middle East. Not ones to shy away from tackling these topics, we asked our voters to reflect on their interest in international news and whether global events feel relevant to their everyday lives. The results offer a timely snapshot of how pupils are engaging with the world beyond their immediate communities.

Results from a VoteTopic we released in September found that 1 in 4 Secondary students didn’t keep up with the headlines over summer 2025, however just over half (56%) said that global politics feels relevant to them in January 2026. This could show a shifting interest as the year progresses, but it could also highlight their growing reliance on social media apps such as TikTok for their headlines, as many who voted ‘No’ in September clarified that it was more traditional news outlets that they didn’t keep up with, rather than the news itself.

Secondary, 16+ & College voters were asked: “Is global politics relevant to you?”, while Primary 7-11 voters discussed: “Are you interested in world news?” and Primary 5-7 voters considered, “Are you interested in news from other countries?”

66,613 young people voted on this topic.

Age 5-11 voter

Yes, I am interested in world news because just because you live in a different country doesn't mean you can't find out about what is happening in other places.

Age 11-16 voter

Age 11-16 voter

Global politics is like the foundation of a house, if there is no foundation the house will crumble. It is relevant to us as one day we are going to be able to vote and need to understand what is going on in the world.

Age 11-16 voter

Age 11-16 voter

I don't want to always worry about global politics unless it is definitely going to impact me. Otherwise you live in a constant state of stress.

63% of those aged 7-11 said they are interested in world news.

  • Primary pupils aged 5-7 discussed the question, "Are you interested in news from other countries?" and 78% said Yes.
  • Similarly, 7-11-year olds discussed the question, "Are you interested in world news?" and 63% said Yes.
56% of 11-16-year olds said global politics is relevant to them.

  • Secondary students discussed the question, "Is global politics relevant to you?"
  • Just over half, at 56% voted Yes, which amounted to our slimmest majority out of all the age groups.
  • This matched our findings in September, where the greatest majority of No votes was found at the Secondary level for the question, "Have you kept up with the headlines this summer?" (75% voted No).
76% of 16+ & College students agreed that global politics is relevant to them.

  • 3 out of 4 College and 16+ students said that global politics is relevant to them.
  • This was our second highest Yes majority after Primary pupils aged 5-7, suggesting our youngest and oldest voters are the most engaged with world news and politics.
Many said they valued feeling informed about global news, as it could help them decide what's important to them politically.

  • Many saw the benefits of staying informed, especially with the voting age being lowered to 16 soon.
  • However, some echoed the sentiment we found in our September VoteTopic, that they find the news worrying and boring, especially when it feels far removed.