Have Youth Got A Structure?

Have you noticed that there is an increase in youth crime around the world. There seems to be violence everywhere! Is it because we are being made more aware of it through the media or is it really on the rise? And dare I suggest it might be linked to social networking?

Every day we see youths of some kind on the rampage. One day its Europe, then USA Europe, Africa and Asia. Recently there was a youth shot dead by police in Greece. Now they are going into there second week. of violence, looting and destruction.

It has been claimed that rioting has even spread to neighbouring countries. The suggestion is that the boy in question has a profile on Facebook. So he not only has friends in his own village but has friends (or enemies) around the world.

So is it social networking to blame for the rise in youth violence?
The implications for good or harm of network sites has not yet been ascertained.

There is a complete change in the structure we provide our youth. In the olden days we would provide the youth with a particular set of skills which were know to us and the manner that we imparted those skills to the youth was clearly defined.

Now a large percentage of our youth are left to there own devices. There is no goals, no structure for achievement and no guarantee that what they are doing is safe or life-supporting.

On the other hand maybe this generation of youth are pioneers who are creating their own domain as they go along. I know I and a good proporton of adults have grown to rely on their knowledge, technology and aptitude for creative change. They definitely seem to have a greater adaptability, skill level and awareness of the broader implications of the modern technologies.

One wonders what effect it must have on the young brain to be older people so reliant on their knowledge. This seems at odds with traditional development.How do they feel when they know more than the teacher? Is this motivating to them or does it create a division between youth and adults that goes beyond the generation gap. And why is it that they can so easily adapt to the technology. Are they born with the skill?

But maybe there is a downside to all this. With cell phones, internet, and social networking sites there is automatic transfer of ideas. But these ideas are uncensored and could serve to fuel amplified feelings and subsequent violence. Afterall, without parental supervision the youth may not have mature enough judgement to be able to filter the good from the bad, because it is not always black and white, but rather grey.

Are the older generation being over critical, or do they deserve reproach for allowing the awareness of the youth to be polluted by forces that often destroy innocence, and sometimes character along with it.

There is an old saying: "whatever you put your attention on grows stronger in your life.." And with our youth putting enormous amounts of attention on the virtual world, one can only hope something good will come out of this moment in history.

Anthony,
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