In history, the youth has always been on the forefront of necessary changes in the society, from young philosophers in ancient Greece (followers of Socrates) questioning authority, to Roman reformists like the Gracchi brothers, Jewish youth in the Maccabean revolt, medieval European students protesting unfair treatment, and even young warriors in Japan and participants in Spartacus’ rebellion seeking freedom. This has always been the order of the day, the youth are usually more woke, and they see things with a fresh mind.

But in today’s world, with the advancement of technology and the easy access to information through social media and other sources have made it very easy for youths to be at the forefront of everything in the society, from the music, to fashion, to governance, and the whole global culture in general, there was a cultural shift when the youths gained more ground. In this article we will talk about that.

What is Youth Activism?

Youth activism is mainly participation of young people in social, political, and environmental movements. It can be in the form of creating awareness campaigns on social media, joining advocacy groups, developing innovative solutions for societal problems or even organizing protests. It allows young people to be involved in the way the society works. It is a driving force which shapes societal structure.

Why Youth Activism is Important

• Young people give fresh insights and perspective on matters by challenging outdated systems and bringing innovative ideas, and that is because young people are naturally curious, so they tend to be inventive. 
• Youths, especially activists amplify their reach beyond borders, they are well connected all around the globe, they connect well and fast, so they tend to make important matters well known easily, and small societal issues turn big, they get solutions faster that way. And through social media in the modern days, it has made that so much easier.
• Young people get easy access to social media, and that itself makes it easier to communicate with themselves locally and globally, which tends to solve more problems faster and more effectively.
• Young people are passionate and enthusiastic, they have the energy and drive to go through with issues, and this drive fades away with age and experience, so, it’s important to tackle societal issues as a young person.
• To put in perspective, young people tend to be affected more by these issues, such as, climate issues, bad governance, cultural imbalance, racial abuse etc. This makes young people be more interested in solving these problems and be future driven, they tend to always find a long term solution to problems.

Positive Effects of Youth Activism

• It reforms policies such as human rights, education, climate policy, and democracy, an example is that Malala Yousafzai’s campaign influenced global policy on girls’ education.
• Governments and organizations tend to  respond to youth movements faster.
• Young people educate societies about pressing issues through activism
• Activism gives empowerment by building leadership skills, critical thinking, and communication skills among young people and also gives them the opportunity to participate in the decision-making of the society.

Negative Effects of Youth Activism

• Youth activists may be arrested, bullied into silence of be censored by authorities,
• Constant activism can lead to anxiety, depression and frustration, especially if there is little or no changes.
• Some politicians or organizations may manipulate young movements for personal or political gain.
• Constant activism may distract youths from academics or professional development, especially when they have to be committed fully to the cause.

However, youth activities often face so many challenges while fighting for a cause, such as;

• Exclusion of young people from decision making of a society by the government due to “inexperience”.
• Struggle with mental health problems such as burnout, anxiety, depression etc., can also be a major setback.
• Little to no funding: Youths mostly do not have the financial capability to carry out certain activities in the course of activism.
  

Nonetheless, the key to seeing through and bringing about change in policy reforms is to fight through, no matter the setbacks.

Youth activism is a driving force, from ancient rebellion to modern social media movements, it is undeniable that youth activism is an inevitable force, and young people are capable of reshaping the society.

The world cannot afford to silence the voices of the youth, it must learn to embrace them instead, because they are the blueprint, the force and leaders of tomorrow, they fight a future battle and as societies grow, so do the voices grow.

Although it is a two-edged sword, there are setbacks and consequences, but the long-term greatness cannot be denied, and greater than any present consequence, it requires sacrifice.