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G’day, fellow keyboard warriors and digital natives! It’s Sophie here, your resident 24-year-old blogger and self-proclaimed avocado toast enthusiast. Today, we’re diving into a topic that is as sizzling as my last disastrous attempt at making homemade chilli sauce – the role of our generation, Gen Z, in political activism and social change.
First things first, let’s get something straight. We are not just a generation obsessed with TikTok dances and Snapchat filters (though I must admit my dog looks adorable with the rainbow puke filter). We’re also a generation that is deeply committed to making positive changes in our world.
Consider this for a moment: we are the first generation to have grown up with technology literally at our fingertips. This has given us unprecedented access to information about global issues. And guess what? We’re using that access to educate ourselves, raise awareness and drive change.
We’ve seen it with movements like #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo and #ClimateStrike – all driven by young people who are passionate about equality, justice and sustainability. But how exactly are we doing this? How is Gen Z using its unique position to influence political activism and social change?
Digital Activism
Remember when our parents would tell us off for spending too much time on our phones or computers? Well jokes on them because we were probably busy saving the world! It turns out that being glued to screens has some significant advantages when it comes to activism.
We’ve mastered the art of online mobilisation which allows us to organise protests, spread information quickly through social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram (or even TikTok), start petitions on sites like Change.org, and raise funds for various causes. We’ve also become adept at using these platforms to hold powerful individuals and corporations accountable.
Intersectional Activism
Gen Z is arguably the most diverse generation in history. We embrace our differences and believe in intersectionality – the idea that various forms of oppression, such as racism, sexism, classism etc., are interconnected. This understanding shapes our approach to activism.
We’re not just fighting for one cause. We’re fighting for all causes because we understand that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Our activism isn’t limited by geographical boundaries either. With the power of technology, we’re able to support movements happening on the other side of the world.
Political Participation
Despite what some may think, Gen Z isn’t politically apathetic. In fact, we’re more engaged than ever before. A recent study found that Gen Zers are more likely than previous generations to be registered voters and to have attended a political rally or protest.
We may not always agree with traditional politics (let’s be honest, who does?), but we understand the importance of participating in it. Whether it’s voting in elections or running for office ourselves (shout out to all the future prime ministers reading this), we know that political participation is key to bringing about change.
Educating Ourselves and Others
The internet has given us access to a wealth of information (and let’s not forget memes). But unlike our parents’ generation who relied heavily on traditional news media, we’re turning to alternative sources like social media influencers or independent news outlets for information.
We’re educating ourselves about issues affecting us and our world so that we can make informed decisions when it comes time to vote or take action. And we’re not keeping this knowledge to ourselves either. We’re using our platforms to educate others and raise awareness about important issues.
So, there you have it, folks! Gen Z isn’t just a generation of selfie-takers and meme-makers (though we are pretty good at both). We’re a generation of change-makers, using our unique position and resources to drive political activism and social change.
And let’s be honest – if we can manage to do all this while also mastering the latest TikTok dance trend, I’d say we’re doing pretty well. So here’s to us, Gen Z – the tech-savvy, socially-conscious, avocado toast-loving generation that’s making waves in the world. Keep fighting the good fight!
