It's that time again. Time for that little event that happens once every four years and gets everyone talking about the issues that matter to them: the presidential election. Knowing the young vote can weigh heavily on an election's outcome, the candidates usually try their best to reach out to Gen Y. Take President Obama's recent interview with MTV, for example, which clearly aimed to reel in young supporters.

So which issues are on the minds of the 18 to 34 set this year? According to the consumer insights firm the Intelligence Group's "The Good Guide," a survey of 900 people from this age group, the economy, education and the environment top the list. The first two of these three are no surprise, given the struggles Gen Y has faced in regards to unemployment and student loan debt. The environment is a topic that seems to have lost momentum in recent years, but it's apparently still popular among young adults. 

Another key finding from the survey relates to Gen Y's preferred method of activism. Two out of three of them believe spreading political messages online has more impact than participating in live rallies or protests does. Does this mean young adults are too lazy to get off their laptops and mobile devices and take real action? Or is it a testament to the unarguable power of social media? I personally think it's the latter.