Written by Willow Kang
Adults have long criticized youths for being too insulated from social issues, but in reality, the opposite is true. All over the world, more young activists are speaking up about social issues that matter to them. As world leaders age, it is necessary for young people to step up their leadership, to ensure that they can create their ideal world. The world’s future depends on the actions that youth leaders take, so it is crucial for them to have all hands on deck when it comes to enacting social change.
4.26 billion people use social media, and 97% of teens use a social media platform like Instagram or Tiktok. Social media has revolutionized the way humans communicate with each other, and has become a giant archive of viewpoints and information. Activism requires activists to bring attention to social issues, and the most convenient way they can do this is through social media. On Instagram, accounts like Black Lives Matter and Greenpeace churn out infographics and information on a myriad of issues that makes it more accessible to viewers. Viewers find that they are more interested in tackling the social issue after reading from bite-sized infographics, than from newspaper or journal articles. Social media also allows information to be circulated to a larger audience than traditional forms of mass media.
However, there are also downsides to social media. Social media is a breeding ground for echo chambers. An echo chamber is an environment where a person only encounters information or opinions that reflect and reinforce their own. Echo chambers can create misinformation and distort a person’s perspective so they have difficulty considering opposing viewpoints and discussing complicated topics. Instead of advancing social change, this impedes worldwide revolutions. Social media can also be viewed as a threat to democracy to some experts. For example, authoritarian countries may use social media as a form of surveillance against prominent activists, while companies may ‘shadow ban’ activists to control what information is passed. Social media companies do not necessarily work for the benefit of society. Social media companies may also work with governments who fund or invest in them.
Hence, it is important that youths can find ways to involve themselves in social change that do not use social media. A way that youths can do this is through their local or school newspaper. Newspapers often put out calls for op-eds. If not print newspapers, then digital newspapers are also useful platforms. For youths, platforms like The Teen Magazine and Teen Ink are welcoming and inclusive platforms where they can make their voices heard. In this digital age, newspapers are not entirely obsolete. Newspapers have been used for centuries as a way to communicate novel ideas. In 1969, Seymour Hersh exposed the My Lai massacre by U.S Army soldiers. And in 1972, the Washington Post published a series of front-page articles which eventually led to President Nixon’s resignation from office. These are a few examples of the potential to affect public perceptions that newspapers possess. Misinformation is on the rise everywhere, and it is important that activists can rediscover the power of newspapers. Currently, newspapers, despite being old-fashioned, remain a reliable source of information.
But beyond public education, youths must make sure that they take real action for the causes that they believe in. ‘Deeds, not words’ was a central maxim of the women’s suffrage movement, and it must not be forgotten now. The sedentary nature of social media can make it easy for activists to become ‘slacktivists’. ‘Slacktivism’ is not entirely useless. Thousands of posts disseminated through all corners of the internet can be very effective in raising awareness about little-known issues. ‘Slacktivism’ also creates community, something that is pivotal to sparking major revolutions. Yet, without taking real action, social change will be difficult to bring about. Being out in the streets to meet the issues head-on creates a much larger impression than simply protesting virtually. Of course, protesting is not always suitable for everyone. But youths can contribute in other ways that show the world that they care. Young people may want to volunteer at women’s shelters or soup kitchens. An even simpler way is through donating to organizations such as the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) or the leading conservation organization, WWF (World Wildlife Fund). Being physically there to support a cause can improve human connections between fellow activists, thus encouraging a sense of community. This motivates activists to continue working. By working in a group, new ideas flourish, which may give floundering movements the necessary momentum to influence a wider group of people in their country, or even, in the world.
As the world spirals into an ever-deepening humanitarian and ethical crisis, it is up to the younger generations to step up and turn the tide. With so many tools at our disposal, more people than ever before can engage in activism, but may not know how to make the first move. Change starts with us, and by participating in productive means of activism, we can be role models for other people to join movements. Versatility and tenacity entails modern social justice work, but with more spirited youths becoming advocates everyday, it is my sincere belief that we can come together to make a difference.
Written by Willow,
@oldmanheart on Instagram.