Youth Social Action: Creating Change through Conscious Use of Technology

Perhaps one of the biggest difficulties we collectively face as a global society is the pain and heartache caused by the disenfranchisement of today’s youth.  Disenfranchisement is more than just the “feeling” that one’s voice is unheard. Disenfranchisement is the anger that comes when one truly, deeply, knows that their voice is unheard.

All too often in our society (and others across the globe) – teachers, parents, friends, and leaders, have not worked with the intention to inspire and encourage youth to achieve their dreams and create a place for themselves in the world.  Rather our laws and social hierarchies prevent certain groups from voting, and through intimidation, segregation, or lack of information, keep these groups of people from being heard.  The result? A frustrating feeling of being unimportant.  The power to peaceably and effectively change policy and governance does not exist.

Education, at its best, should be a process of exploration and discovery, nurturing  individual curiosity.   It should empower and enliven the independent and collective spirit, creating opportunities for each student to find his/her special place in the world.  (click here to watch a MapMaker Video Clip on Education.) On the contrary, many of today’s youth are subjected to a system of standards they themselves have no say in.  They are shuffled from one regimented class to the next, learning a select group of facts, figures and stories that may or may not have any relevance to their current life or the life they are interested in creating.  When education becomes regimented and systematized, burdensome standards drive creative kids elsewhere.

In the midst of this seemingly overwhelming scene, a new story has the possibility to emerge.

Youth engagement with media is essential to the future health of the U.S. and of the world.  New technologies and a growing global consciousness has created an innovative opportunity for young people to connect locally, nationally and internationally for social action and the chance to voice their concerns and desires.   Through the innovative use of technology, young people may speak out and affect change in relation to the issues touching their lives.

The challenge is to find ways of engaging and empowering young people in community participation and social change.  To begin, we must understand the importance of the lived experience of activism: the recognition that youth activist work is grounded within the lives and realities of young people themselves.  In this way, we recognize that their are multiple parts to all activist work – the first and most primary being “the impulse” to create socio-political, economic or environmental change through a sense of belonging and responsibility.

The time has come to re-engage young people in building a more socially, environmentally, and economically viable society.  Digital technology offers all of us the opportunity to engage young people in meaningful and relevant ways to support their participation in building a more resilient society.  Together, we need to develop young people’s talents and opportunities and equip them with the confidence, skills and motivation to address the many challenges they and future generations face.