In Germany, turning 16 comes with many new privileges, such as the right to buy beer, to drive a scooter or to buy a phone. But until now, young Germans were not allowed to vote, except in a few communal or state elections. That's about to change.

In the upcoming European Parliament election in June, following lengthy debates in Germany on lowering the voting age for EU elections, 16- and 17-year-olds will be allowed to cast their ballots for the first time. Young citizens of Belgium, Austria, Greece and Malta will also be eligible to vote this year.

Educators and foundations are therefore advocating for workshops and information sessions to prepare young Germans for the European election. The Friedrich Ebert Foundation, which is associated with Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party, has called it "training up" the youth on its website.

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And it's a reasonable goal. Many young people are likely to be uncertain about who they're allowed to vote for, and what effect a small "x" on their ballot can have on their lives.

Most young people, however, would probably prioritize social media platforms over foundations to get their information. The far-right, populist........

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