A generation adrift: Why young people are less happy and what we can do about it

 

• Youth happiness is in decline worldwide, due to a combination of social, economic, technological and ecological pressures.
• This drop-off will have future economic and health consequences.
• Sustained healthcare, education and social media reforms must be implemented to support young people.

We live in a world where teenagers grapple with a sense of crisis before adulthood; a time when young people, historically beacons of optimism, report lower happiness than their elders. 

In the “seven ages of man” depicted in As You Like It, Shakespeare painted later life stages as melancholic, but the latest World Happiness Reportunveils a concerning reality: young people worldwide now report lower happiness levels than their elders. Since 2006, levels of reported youth happiness have declined in North America, South America, Europe, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

Several factors contribute to this decline, as highlighted by the report and further research:

1. Economic challenges

• Rising costs. Young people face a steeper climb to prosperity than previous generations. Housing, education and healthcare affordability can be major roadblocks to financial security and overall well-being. Student loan debt and stagnant wages further squeeze their finances, delaying milestones like home ownership and starting families, which contribute to feelings of accomplishment and stability. This isn't just a Western phenomenon; a 2022 World Bank report found rising housing costs are also a major concern for young adults in developing economies like Brazil and India.
• Job market. The gig economy and precarious work arrangements offer less security and benefits compared to traditional careers. This lack of stability makes financial planning difficult and increases anxiety about the future. A 2023 report by the International Labour Organization found youth unemployment rates remain stubbornly high across developed economies, and are even worse in developing countries.

2. Social and technological pressures

• Social media. While offering connection, social media can fuel inadequacy and social comparison. A 2022 study found a strong correlation between increased social media use and symptoms of depression and loneliness in young adults, likely a global trend.
• Social isolation. Despite online connections, young people might experience a lack of strong, in-person relationships due to factors like decreased leisure time, geographical mobility or social anxieties. Feeling disconnected from a supportive community can negatively impact happiness.

3. Uncertainty and anxiety

• Climate change. The looming threat of climate change weighs heavily on younger generations. They inherit a world beset with environmental challenges and may feel a lack of control or agency to address them.
• Political polarization. Increased societal and political divisions can fuel anxiety and hopelessness. Witnessing constant negativity can be emotionally draining. A 2023 UNICEF report found young people in conflict zones around the world, like Syria and Yemen, report particularly high levels of anxiety and depression.

The report reveals a geographical and inequality disparity. In Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, the UK, and Spain, older adults report higher happiness than the young, while Portugal and Greece show the opposite trend. It further shows young people across North America are now measurably less content than their elders. Inequality of happiness has also increased in every region with the exception of Europe, which may soon follow this "historic" and "disconcerting" shift.

The consequences could be catastrophic if left unaddressed. As the report notes: "To think that in some parts of the world children are already experiencing the equivalent of a midlife crisis demands immediate policy action." When happiness wanes, so does motivation, productivity, health and life expectancy.

 

Fostering happiness worldwide 

While the report paints a concerning picture, it also offers hope. Countries like Costa Rica and Kuwait saw increased happiness among young people. While the specific reasons remain under study, these examples suggest focusing on social support and a sense of purpose might be key.

1. Prioritize global mental health support. We must invest in accessible and comprehensive mental health services for young people in schools and communities worldwide. Early intervention and support are critical to address the negative effects of social media and other stressors. Programmes like mindfulness training and group therapy sessions have shown success in reducing anxiety and depression in young people. Additionally, creating online resources and helplines specifically catered to youth mental health concerns can ensure wider accessibility.

2. Foster real-world connections across cultures. Activities that promote genuine social interaction and a sense of belonging should be supported and encouraged across cultures. International exchange programmes, where young people from different countries live and learn together, can foster understanding and lifelong friendships. Virtual youth mentorship initiatives can connect young people with experienced professionals who can offer guidance and support. Even global online communities focused on shared interests, like environmental activism or creative writing, can provide a sense of belonging and purpose.

3. Push for social media reform. Social media companies and governments have a global responsibility to prioritize user well-being. Implementing stricter content regulations and policies that limit the spread of negativity and misinformation is crucial. Platforms can also explore features that limit screen time or require age verification for certain types of content. International cooperation can ensure these reforms are implemented effectively across borders, creating a safer and more positive online environment for young people globally.

4. Champion education for the future. Schools need to go beyond traditional academics and equip students with life skills that can be applied anywhere. Financial literacy workshops can empower young people to make informed financial decisions and navigate the complexities of student loans and budgeting. Teaching healthy online habits can ensure responsible and safe social media use.

The world stands at a crossroads, facing the sobering reality of declining youth happiness. The 2024 World Happiness Report reminds us of our collective responsibility to nurture the well-being of future generations. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s workforce; by addressing the factors contributing to youth discontent now, business and society can collectively pave the way for a brighter future.

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/04/youth-young-people-happiness/

 

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OTHER MAJOR ISSUES:

MAKING FRIENDS:

Making new friends is often considered one of the most difficult parts of the adult experience. As such, it’s become a common topic of conversation when it comes to friendship.

But after more than a decade of reading about the delicate art of making new friends, I’ve found that much of the advice shared in magazines, books and articles has turned stale. The common advice – to take up a hobby or strike up a conversation in the office kitchen – now feels akin to wellness stories that simply tell you to get more sleep, drink plenty of water and wash your face before bed. At a certain point, obvious advice begins to feel redundant.

Modern friendships have modern issues. Sports and hobbies cost both money and time. And as physical workplaces change, so do the relationships that once existed within them. For many reasons, a significant chunk of the most regurgitated friendship advice no longer cuts it – and young people are now lonelier than ever.

Thankfully, modern issues can also have modern solutions.

https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/the-new-ways-young-people-are-making-friends-online-and-in-real-life-20230831-p5e0ul.html

 

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A QUESTION OF TRUST...

Trust is an important aspect of early childhood social and emotional development, which is formed through interactions with authority figures such as parents and educators. However, lies told by adults, whether with protective or disciplinary intentions, can affect children's trust.

This study analyzes the impact of lies on early childhood trust in adults through a literature review. Using literature analysis from various sources, this study found that lies, especially if repeated, can damage children's trust, hinder the formation of healthy emotional relationships, and affect children's ability to distinguish between honesty and lies. In addition, the type of lie has different impacts; lies with good intentions can produce milder effects than lies for personal gain.

Long-term impacts include the tendency for children to imitate lying behavior and impaired social development. This study recommends the importance of honest communication by parents and educators to build strong children's trust, as well as the need for further studies to explore other factors, such as culture and parenting, that can moderate the relationship between lies and trust. These findings are expected to contribute to developmental psychology and become practical guidelines in supporting the formation of children's trust without using lies.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/391113759_
Analysis_of_the_Impact_of_Lies_on_Children's_Trust_in_Adults

 

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Mainstream politicians and pundits have long peddled the narrative that young people are politically disengaged, more interested in taking selfies than changing society. But the explosion of youth-led climate protests and Palestine activism indicates there is no shortage of political opinions among young people. They’re just not the sort of opinions the establishment approves of. 

When more than 2,000 high schoolers walked out of school last week to take a stand against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, politicians across the aisle mocked, condemned and patronised them. ABC’s 7.30 Report ran a story with a contemptible contention: high schoolers, far from having the collective courage to raise their voices for justice in Palestine, had likely faced indoctrination from biased social media platforms. 

When thousands of high schoolers swarmed the streets demanding urgent action on climate change at the height of the Schools Strike 4 Climate movement in 2018 and 2019, they were met with a smear campaign from the government. Dan Tehan, then federal minister for education, told the Daily Telegraph that “taxpayer funded eco-worriers” were masterminding “an appalling political manipulation” of high schoolers. Resources Minister Matt Canavan told ABC that the only thing high-school protesters learnt was “how to join the dole queue”; only school could teach them things that matter: “how to build a mine, how you do geology, how you drill for oil and gas”. 

When hundreds of brave high schoolers rallied at Flinders Street Station in 2007 to protest against the figurehead of US imperialism, George Bush, Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had stern words for these disobedient teens. “Stick to [your books]”, he urged. “This is not a time for kids to get mixed up in protest activity.” Rudd clearly hadn’t heard the catchcry of earlier generations of anti-war student protesters and their pithy riposte to establishment politicians: books, not bombs—or, in the slightly expanded form that gained traction during 2003 school walkouts against America’s invasion of Iraq, “when the bombs drop, school stops”. 

Time and time again, when young people mobilise against the rich and powerful and the war-mongering, climate-destroying status quo, they’re deemed too dumb to understand, too impressionable to have agency and too impotent to make change. In part, this reflects the way that political and economic leaders respond to anyone who challenges their prerogatives. But it also reflects something more specific: in an era of deep crisis and declining support for traditional political forces, young people are a constant thorn in the side of those who want to claim social consensus exists around conservative politics. 

Much to the chagrin of the political right and the corporate media, young people’s political views are well to the left of other social layers on every major issue. ABC’s 2022 Vote Compass, a representative survey conducted and published after every Australian federal election since the 1980s, revealed that young people were the most left-wing in the poll’s history.

https://redflag.org.au/article/young-people-have-political-opinions-political-establishment-just-doesnt-them

 

 

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READ FROM TOP.

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT — SINCE 2005.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.