In Germany, turning 16 comes with a lot of 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 at a few communal or state elections. That's about to change this year.

In the upcoming European Parliament election in June, following lengthy debates on lowering the federal 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 events to prepare young Germans for the European election. The German Friedrich-Ebert foundation, which is associated with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) , is calling it "training up" the youth on its website.

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.

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Most young people, however, would probably prioritize social media platforms over foundations........

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