Youth and Society

Youth and Society
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It was reported that a quarter of the world’s population consists of the youth and it is projected that there will be seventy two million more youth in 2015 (Nugent, 2006). The youth in today’s society have very different experiences when compared to those existing two generations ago. The difference in their experiences is shaped by new trends in technology, globalization and economic changes. The youth today spend a large portion of their youthful years preparing for self-dependence as compared to the ones of two decades ago, and they live in more economically turbulent times (Nugent, 2006). This paper outlines the different ways in which the society has influenced youth behavior as result of technological advancements, economic development and globalization which renders significant sociocultural implications for youth in the society.
Some of the societal changes in the contemporary world have a significant effect on the youth. Changes in societal conditions in families, schools, residential areas and training institutions play a significant role in influencing youth behavior. There is an increased tolerance for an individualistic attitude that has been draining the collective elements of society. These changes have also been felt in predominantly collective societies in various parts of Africa (Blossfeld, Klijzing, Mills, & Kurz, 2010). One of the effects of these changes on the youth is increased tolerance for family disintegration. For instance, there is a trend in broken homes following divorce, rising number of single parent families, increased poverty owing to high unemployment rates among other issues that beleaguer the youth. Some of the effects of these negative social trends include the rising number of adolescents and youth in welfare systems, and juvenile justice systems.
Another trend in society that has influenced youth behavior is the can do mentality. The contemporary society is characterized by the ‘can do’ mentality which encourages the youth to pursue education and engage in lifelong education pursuit. In as much as the youth engage in part time and full time jobs, they also access student loans to pursue privatized higher education which generates significant debts. The youth have plugged into the societal belief that if one is more likely to succeed upon trying hard enough. This societal belief redirects blame for youth failure to the individual rather than on the social policies. Opportunities for the youth have significantly reduced as compared to the situation two decades ago. The benefits of higher education are evidently more useful to the industrious working class and many youth face periods of professional unemployment. This situation has caused the youth to be increasingly dependent on their families to service their education and sustenance (White, 2008).
Social policy problems have resulted in a fragmented transition to adulthood for the youth. Young people have longer waiting times before becoming economically independent as compared to earlier times. The society has interrupted the onset of other adulthood markers such as sexual activity. In the past, young people would transition from higher, education and into work life and establish intimate relationships almost simultaneously. This is has changed and young people engage in intimate relationships before securing a settled economically stable life. They become sexually active at an average age of fifteen, secure part time jobs to support their social lives and stay in their family homes until they are twenty five years old (White, 2008).
The society has also experienced significant changes in terms of communication and technology. Technology and communication advancement has transformed the nature of social interactions particularly among the youth. The youth are in the lead with impeccable mobile phone and computer skills. This has changed the mode of youth sociability and restricted the role of parents as gatekeepers. In as much as they stay at family homes longer than in the earlier years, they still enjoy great autonomy and freedom made possible by virtual interactions (White, 2008). Pest power has also increased where advertisers take advantage of increased youth users on online platforms to market products and services such as music, styles, gossip and youth culture which appeals to the market segment (Kahne & Middaugh, 2012).
The society presents significant challenges for the youth as they transition into adulthood. These challenges revolve around areas such as education, employment, family systems which affect their family and labor market entry decisions. The turbulent economic times in the society has influenced the youth behavior in establishing families and it is important to note that the marriage age has continued to rise. Women’s rising economic independence has been cited as the predominant cause. However, a new discourse shows that increased economic difficulties among young moderately educated males has made a significant contribution to the rising marriage age. Young males encounter more difficulty in securing employment during recessions as compared to older men. They also have low and unstable incomes which are insufficient to sustain households and thus contribute to delayed marriages (Blossfeld, Klijzing, Mills, & Kurz, 2010).
The society has continuously labeled the youth as an at risk group of people. The society views the youth as a vulnerable people which indicate that they possess risks. It overlooks their strengths and the opportunities that the youth can render to the society. These results in a stereotyping that the youth are unable to contribute effectively to the society and they only exhaust societal resources. This stereotype has a negative effect on the youth because it results in a poor self...