Challenges facing youth

The issues facing youths in the twenty-first century are far much different from issues of youths in the twentieth century. The youth of today is considered to be much superior. They do not consider themselves to be too young to be spoiled, and they are not supposed to be old enough to take responsibility on their own shoulders.

Young people in the twenty-first century know more and have access to vastly greater quantities of information than ever before. They have lots more information at their finger tips than those teaching them. This means they are less likely to accept authoritative answers.

In this new Millennium society has begun to recognize serious concerns with issues that youths have to deal with today. The dangerous phenomena that characterise are numerous. Problems which the young are facing today are very different from the problems that were pressing down the young of the past. Obviously they live in different times, conditions and different youth. Today’s youth are less concerned with politics; they are vulnerable to be used in anti-social activities. Globalization, drugs, overpopulation, abortion, gay rights, poverty, disease, war and terrorism, global warming, power in international relations, increasing popularity of digital formats for entertainment media such as movies and music and the advancement of technology are the major issues that characterise this youth of today.

Single Parent Households

Since the 1950s, the numbers of the single parent households have significantly increased.

Today, 14 million single parent homes are responsible for 28 million children.

Raising a child in itself is difficult enough, no matter whether it is a single parent home or not, especially with tough economic conditions.

 

Drug/Alcohol Abuse

There have been times in history where every actor/actress in a movie was portrayed with a cigarette in hand, as smoking was considered cool.

Today, about 21% of high school students admit drug use and 41% report drinking alcohol.

Obesity

Recent numbers show that more and more children and youth especially in the United States are becoming obese.

This is mostly because they prefer to spend more time in front of the TV or laptop and not enough time exercising and leading a healthy lifestyle.

 

Education Inequality

Different groups of young people seem to have unequal access to proper education and throughout the world, there have been continuous attempts at reforming education at all levels.

Still, according to the World Inequality Database on Education, more than 25% of children worldwide have never been to primary school.

Shifting Economy.

In today’s society, the open markets and globalization result in laying off workers and outsourcing work to the countries where it is cheaper.

This makes it more difficult for the young people to find jobs and further complicates the already problematic lives of the youth.