Candidate emphasizes digital rights, online safety and arts-based civic outreach

Rakeek Ali, a rising senior at West Anchorage High School, told the Assembly he would prioritize digital rights and online safety if selected as a youth representative. "I want to bring the issue of digital rights into the forefront, especially when it comes to, say, child exploitation on digital platforms," he said while outlining a plan that centers education on how social media companies use engagement tactics and on steps students can take to protect themselves online.

Ali suggested youth-focused digital literacy—teaching students how social platforms work, how to spot exploitation, and how to safely navigate online spaces—plus arts-driven outreach to make civic information more accessible. He described making films and art installations that communicate civic messages and said that combining artistic outreach with social-media promotion could reach students who do not typically engage with government communications.

Assembly members pressed candidates broadly about communication and promotion; Ali and other finalists recommended increased use of Instagram and other social channels to reach younger residents.