Young people in Ireland are more likely to recognise YouTuber MrBeast than the Tánaiste.

That’s among the findings of a new survey conducted by regional youth radio station Beat 102 103 and SPARK on a sample of 500 people aged between 18 and 28.

It aimed to better understand young people’s behaviours, attitudes, and thoughts in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some 63% of respondents correctly identified MrBeast in a photograph, who has almost 300 million subscribers on YouTube, compared to just 56% for Micheál Martin.

Simon Harris and Leo Varadkar at Grangegorman Primary Care Centre in Dublin, 25-03-2019. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Meanwhile, 44% correctly identified Simon Harris as Taoiseach, while 29% believed Leo Varadkar still filled the role.

Michael D Higgins was correctly identified as President of Ireland by 89% of respondents, the most of any politician.

Beat 102 103’s News and Sports Editor Aoife Kearns said this was understandable given he has now almost fulfilled two terms as President.

“It may also be representative of his renowned status as a symbol of Ireland and Irishness,” she said.

“This is likely aided by his character, from the ‘Miggledy’ nickname in which he is affectionately known, to the love he has for his famous pets often pictured on the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin.”

President Michael D Higgins in England, 11-4-14. Image: Colin Underhill / Alamy

Other findings showed that 26% of young people would vote for Sinn Féin in a general election, followed by 10% for Fine Gael, 6% for Fianna Fáil, and 5% for the Green Party.

However, 29% said they didn’t know who they would vote for.

Young people

Ben Ward, a 21-year-old Fine Gael Councillor, said politicians need to do more to connect with young people.

“It’s not young people’s fault for not taking an interest; it’s up to us to show them why they should be interested in politics,” he said.

“They don’t have to be, we have to show them how it can affect their lives and if they don’t think we’re doing that, there’s no reason for them to be interested in it.”

Taoiseach Micheal Martin addressing media in the courtyard at Government Buildings on July 7th 2022. Picture by: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Almost three in five respondents said they didn’t vote in the family and care referendums last March.

The survey also found that 72% of young people source their news from social media, their most popular source of news, followed by ‘friends and family’ (55%).

One in five said they consult newspapers for their news.

Main image: YouTube star MrBeast. Image: Sipa USA / Alamy Stock Photo