Is not was: youth keeping our eyes on the crises around us
In February 2022, Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine. As the news spread, outrage exploded worldwide. The topic was discussed in class, donations were made, and people sported the yellow and blue of Ukraine’s flag on their clothes and bracelets. Students were enraged. They were taking action, pouring in donations and social media attention.
But suddenly, it died out.
Just as quickly as the news broke and people started responding, the war was forgotten. In fact, many reading this article might even be surprised to know that it is still being fought. In one moment, it seemed, younger generations were no longer invested in this crisis, even though it desperately needs their support, as casualties continue to mount daily.
Why is this news not paid attention to by students? The answer might lie in the way the younger generation consumes media. Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube are most likely where those born after the mid 1990s — also known as Gen Z — will find their news.
According to the Reuters Institute 2019 Digital News Report, Gen Z makes up over 50% of those who check social media, such as Twitter and Instagram, for news first thing in the morning. On the other hand, we only make up 23% of those who check direct sources such as television and newspapers.
Social media apps and platforms, the source the younger generation use at the greatest rate, are innately ineffective at providing news because of their algorithm. Social media, while having many benefits and positive influences, also carefully tailors itself to individual interests, meaning that important news updates either slip through or don’t align with the preferences of the viewer.
Yet we cannot scroll away from reality.
These crises are important, no matter if they are in a nearby city or on the other side of the world. Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, South Sudan, Yemen, and so many more countries need the help of younger generations as much as the older.
So now lies the question of our next step. There are many ways to get involved and to consume news, and it is important to know where to begin.
Firstly, one can join one of many volunteer programs. One of which I am part of is called ENGin, and it impacted my understanding of the war and worldwide conflict as well as the power of teaching language. ENGin is a program which focuses on teaching Ukrainians English, and has recently begun a program to teach Ukrainian to all interested as well.
Secondly, ensuring that you have reliable news sources while staying informed is crucial. The Online Correspondent for ENGin, Olga Vasylkivska, stated in an interview, “We have openly published information about the war on our website, mentioning the importance of international support.” Furthermore, she recommended news outlets “the Kyiv Post and BBC News for Students.” Ms. Vasylkivska also noted that, “using multiple sources, comparing information, and encouraging critical thinking is necessary to understand the situation comprehensively.”
Social media platforms, however, do not only have to isolate users from relevant war information. It can often be a reliable and positive news source. Olga Vasylkivska states that “ENGin also encourages students’ social media interactions by creating more than 30 ENGin online communities in Telegram, which is a safe space for sharing students’ interests [with] the ENGin volunteer moderators, who always support them.”
As Gen Z, we are the future and should, as such, be aware of the things which affect our world. Ukrainian ENGin student Olha affirms, “people who know about it can help solve these problems. I mean, how can you solve a problem if you don’t know what the issue is?” Knowledge can encourage taking action. “[Those informed about crises] can come out onto the streets for meetings to change something if it’s necessary and they can talk about it so the world can know about it,” Olha states. Another student of ENGin who I have been working with, Kristina, also weighed in on the issue. She emphasized the importance of being informed, commenting, “When people know about the war, they want to help us and support us, and for every Ukrainian it will be a pleasure.”
If we can properly use social media platforms to consistently pay attention to the world around us, we can stand ground and do our own part in averting such devastating crises. Even the smallest action will change lives in peril for the better.
Written by Maria Shinina
