Debunking Myths About Youth

It seems to me that all people like to do these days is point out the flaws of the generation before or after them. Boomers will sit there and complain about young people nowadays, and young people will sit there having the same conversation complaining about boomers. When did this generation vs. generation trend become the norm?

It’s not a mystery that with every new generation comes a new or different mindset shaped by their collective identity and what has impacted them collectively. Seeing as how every generation has been impacted by something or another, why are we so quick to judge one another? Why are we so quick to attack each other on either side?

The younger generation of today is in the same shoes as older generations once were. Boomers, just like the Gen Z’ers of today, looked at the generations before them and saw things differently. This is completely normal, and if anything, it should be used to our advantage. We need different perspectives; we need different mindsets and viewpoints in our communities.

Let’s stop harping on younger generations because they see things differently, that’s where older generations once stood. To do that, it will be useful to debunk some myths about youth. Let’s put aside the misconceptions and judgements once and for all.

Myth #1: Youth cannot commit and are disloyal.

Reality: Young people are choosing not to commit to companies, or organizations that do not care about them in return.

They have learned the hard way that the world is not interested in helping them or taking care of them. While this is a generalized statement, young people are more attuned and mindful of where they spend their energy. They are going to seek out places that actively show that they value and care about them, just as much as they care about your organization or business. Only then when it’s a mutually reciprocal relationship will youth commit and be loyal.

What does this do for you as an organization?

If you want youth involved in your organization, and for them to commit to your cause for the long run, then you need to care about them just as much as they care about you. If you engage with them, treat them as equals, value their voice and knowledge and take care of them, then they will do the same in return.

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Myth #2: Youth prefer to live their lives online versus in real life.

Reality: Many young people experienced their formative years during a global pandemic where being in-person with people was not an option and still might not be an option for individuals. It is not that they don’t live their lives in real life, it's that it takes a lot more effort for them to.

Most of the opportunities given to young people were online for a few years, and the transition to in-person activities happened so quickly with almost no acknowledgement of what would happen to young people after they spent so much time engaging with communities online.

What does this mean for your organization?

As an organization, it will be tricky to bring youth into your communities outside of online spaces, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible. If anything, think of it as an opportunity. Young people want connection, and they want community, if your organization takes the extra step or effort to engage with youth in real life, imagine what it could do.

They need the extending hand in real life, but let it be a hand that understands the hesitation, resistance and change it is for young people to go from an online community to a community space offline.

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Myth #3: Youth people are apathetic.

Reality: This generation of youth is one of the most aware generations because of the volume and speed at which they can access information about the world around them.

I can’t tell you the last time that I met a young person who didn’t care about something. Every single young person I have interacted with on a professional or personal level has cared about some cause, some issue, and their community.

The issue is, that we expect young people to care about absolutely everything all the time, and in a way, it’s also a pressure they put on themselves. Young people understand that their generation can’t afford to be apathetic, but we also need to collectively recognize that no one can dedicate themselves 100% to every cause out there.

What does this mean for you as an organization?

It means that you have to find young people who align with your cause or are a part of your community.

The goal is to find the ones who care about your cause because they are out there. It just takes some time and effort on your part to bridge that gap and show them that there is a whole community of people who are willing to work to achieve your community's shared goals.

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Let’s make a promise to each other, shall we? Let’s stop assuming things about other generations. Doesn’t matter your age, let’s just stop making assumptions about one another. Because at the end of the day, all we want is connection. All we want is community. Let’s focus on that and less on tearing each other down with misconceptions and judgements.