The last panel I sat in on at RightOnline today was “Shaping the Future: Youth Politics and New Media.” Getting teens and twenty-somethings involved in politics is a challenge. But getting teens and twenty-somethings interested (and involved) in Republican politics and activism often seems to be a nearly impossible task. So, in other words, good luck to the panelists.

My kudos for best points go to Ethan Eilon, College Republicans executive director, and Soren Dayton, modern media and political consultant. Ethan explained how 18- to 25-year-olds have largely been untapped by campaigns because they’re tough to reach. Few in that age group (if any) have landlines and most don’t have the same address for more than six months. Without a phone number or address, these people are “invisible” to a campaign. But with the advent of the internet—and young people moving their lives online—there is finally an “efficient and consistent” way to reach them.

Soren continued on a message that I heard in several Friday panels: modern media (i.e. the web) has not changed the fundamentals of politics, just the medium. The internet is not the “silver bullet” to end problems with voter outreach—especially youth voter outreach. The rules of politics are still the same. You go out, you meet people, you talk to people, and hopefully you convince people to agree with you.

So what does that mean for the Republican battle to win back the youth vote?

The trick is not coding a killer Facebook app or producing a phenomenal YouTube video. Those things are necessary, but not sufficient to create a real youth movement. The real challenge is instead (1) to identify the issues most important to youth voters; (2) to craft a Republican message to respond to those issues and concerns; (3) to deliver that message in such a way it feels authentic and real--the trick to being successful online as David Almacy explained yesterday; and (4) to pass the finished product along to youth voters through the right online portals (social networks, blogs, etc.).

And if that doesn't help the Right "win online" then I don't know what else will.

Cross-posted to Real World Republicans.