How can you influence society in a democracy?

Here's a small nation, governed by its people -- a democracy. One day, the people here vote for a new law; that anyone seven years or older, has to work. No-one should be lazy, all must have a job! Carol is fourteen and would rather go to school. She thinks the new law is unfair, and that it ought to be abolished.

But since she's not 18 yet, she can't vote. So what can she do? In a democracy, are there other ways to influence society than to vote in an election? Yes, even if Carol can't vote herself, she can try to influence others, who then in turn can abolish the law. Carol writes a letter, to all the representatives in Parliament on the island, where she explains why she thinks it's a bad law.

When Carol has attempted to influence the politicians, she decides to also try to influence the rest of the population, and what they think -- the public opinion. Carol puts up posters, and organises a rally, where she gives a passionate speech, that surely convinces... ... at least a few. Every day Carol updates her social media channels, with news and arguments. When she does that, she uses both fact based and emotional arguments.

One day Carol manages to get an opinion piece published, in the largest paper on the island, and after that her texts and videos in social media get more attention. She is interviewed by the news on TV... ... and she's invited to debate shows. And now, she has got the attention of those who want to defend the law -- Carol's opponents. The manager of the mine, that hires most of the seven-year-olds, would lose a lot of money if the new law was abolished.

So he pays a company to do pretty much what Carol does, but with the intention of defending the law. Companies like that are often called lobbyists... ... while people like Carol, are mostly called activists. But they're really after the same thing: influence over the decisions made in a democracy, by affecting people's opinions. Carol thinks that the lobbyists are dishonest in their campaign -- that their information is deceptive and biased.

She claims that they spread propaganda. Quite a lot of people agree with Carol, and organise a demonstration. They march along the main street, with flags and placards, to show how many they are, and how important this issue is to them. The police walk alongside the demonstration, not to stop them, but to protect their right to demonstrate. The right to do what Carol is doing is protected in the constitution, and it's the job of the police to defend that right.

More and more people on the island start asking themselves if it's acceptable even to buy stuff that's produced by children. Some feel that it isn't, and they start boycotting those goods. The boycott is a form of economic activism, that can work both as a symbol, and also have some direct impact on the companies whose products are boycotted. ... And some people go to disturb Carol's meetings, to scare away those who support her. ... And now the police appear again.

This has gone too far. Everyone is allowed to argue their cause, even quite loudly. But no-one is allowed to threaten other people, nor to use violence. Meanwhile, Carol is arrested by the police too. Because she refuses to go to work, and instead sits down in front of the school, in protest.

Carol isn't using any violence, but nevertheless, she is breaking the law. She is involved in civil disobedience. Of all of Carol's activities, we can't really say which is actually affecting whom. But sufficient numbers are affected enough, to get the politicians to listen to them, and abolish the new law.