Why Do Young People Get Involved in Social Movements? | National Geographic

Around the world, young people have played a crucial role in a multitude of social and political movements. Learn the historical precedence of youth activism and the factors that drive young people to become important advocates for change.

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Why Do Young People Get Involved in Social Movements? | National Geographic

National Geographic

[NatGeo]

From the school segregation protests in Arkansas to the Arab Spring protests in Cairo, young people over the years have been instrumental in driving social progress. What do you think about the power of youth activism?

[Kittyteeth]

They aren’t scared of change. Older generations aren’t aware of the problems until the younger generations point it out. They don’t see what we see. Sometimes the older generations don’t want the problems to be changed or solved because the problem befits them or even isn’t a problem they face or have; they don’t see the suffering of others, even when it’s staring them right in the face. It’s basically like the saying, ”we’ve always done it this way”, or, “Not my problem!”, well things, time, and people change; thus the older generations must think about change in a positive way to befit the whole instead of just themselves. Basically what I’m saying is we need to think about other people’s suffering as a problem and we should help fix them together, United.

[codmohgwbf]

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

-Benjamin Franklin

[alikaostermiller]

young people? are you talking about the 10% of the crowd that were youth that showed up to the anti-gun march? or should I say democratic recruiting party for the 2018 elections?

[JazzyCast]

It is because youth are not fully fallen into constructed norms of society which adults have given themselves up to

[mrkrazyaznguyizkrazy]

Because they're young, naive and easily fall prey to corrupt politicians and people who are exploiting their emotional reactions to tragedies.

[kare-n]

“teenagers shouldn’t get involved in politics”
religion shouldn’t be involved in government and men shouldn’t be involved in the regulation of women’s bodies

[jonathansprings]

Because they wanna be apart of something. Whether they know anything about it or not.

[rcarv]

Because they see clearly the absurdity of the lies that sustain human societies and have the urgency and youthful energy to engage against hypocrisy.

[superdumpfback]

I think environmental and nature protection is one of the biggest challenges that need to be addressed more often. Life forms are dying out 1000 times quicker than they used to do. Unfortunately, this only plays a small role in politics and people are more interested to attain instant profit, than to care for our environment which will in the long term guarantee the survival of the next generations

[jayfawn]

Because revolution is cool being rebel is a novelty

[PantsBSquares]

Because they want status of showing their peers how "progressive" they are. Kids protests are more like blind tribalism than individual kids actually knowledgeable of the situation.

[maxron]

Because we have social medias that open our eyes, the corruption no more hidden from the public eye, racism no more rooted in our culture, we are moving to more and more globalization state, of course it will take time but we are in the right way .

[aapnorajasthan]

Some people says that youth just wasting their energy doing these protest...
Because most of issues arrise from political interests..

[shoulders-of-giants]

"They're bored" = top comment
In America, the rich and old extremists will always win.

[star]

These issues are affecting us a lot more than adults, if it isn't solve, we will grow up with them while the adults now will be old and eventually pass away and won't be affected anymore.

[juerfe]

Because they're easier to manipulate.

[jewishgecko]

Yea if I'm bored I would go out to protest against the government any day of the week.
If you lived where I live, you'd know why young people go to the protests.

[dark-lord-vinay]

Nah fam I'd rather be lying in bed...

[TheHandofJove]

Because culture must be maintained with every generation and we’re at the point where change is happening so rapidly since the industrial revolution that cultural change is increasing rapidly