Abstract

In the contemporary media-saturated world youth are both the most represented and the most misunderstood demographic. The way young people are portrayed in media significantly influences how they are perceived by society and how they come to see themselves. This paper explores the politics of youth representation across different forms of media critically examining how mainstream narratives construct stereotype and sometimes silence young voices particularly those from marginalized communities. It also analyzes how digital platforms have enabled new modes of youth self-representation allowing for resistance identity exploration and alternative storytelling. Drawing on theories of cultural studies media critique and youth sociology the paper argues that the politics of representation is central to understanding how youth are positioned within broader social political and economic power structures. Ultimately the study advocates for a more inclusive and reflexive media culture that empow