- The issue isn’t that young people have lost interest in the world—it’s that the world has often failed to give them a reason to care.
- We need to stop mistaking silence for apathy, and disinterest for disconnection. Young people do care—but not always in the ways the system expects.
There’s a growing complaint among older generations, echoed in boardrooms, political circles, and family gatherings: “Young people just don’t care anymore.” They’re accused of being too soft, too distracted, too apathetic.
But that judgment often misses the bigger picture. The issue isn’t that young people have lost interest in the world—it’s that the world has often failed to give them a reason to care.
Take politics, for instance. We tell the youth to vote, speak up, participate. But year after year, election after election, the same faces promise change and deliver disappointment.
How many times can you be told "we're fighting corruption" only to see headlines that prove otherwise? How many youth employment summits does it take before young people give up on being invited to the table—and decide to build their own?
It’s not laziness. It’s fatigue.
It’s the same with climate change. This generation was born into a burning world. They recycle, ride bikes, cut down on meat, even skip having children—yet they watch as some corporations keep polluting.
So yes, some scroll past the news, tune out the noise. But it’s not because they’re indifferent. It’s because they’re overwhelmed by problems they didn’t create, yet are expected to solve.
And in day-to-day life? The pressure to succeed is relentless. Degrees don’t guarantee jobs. Rent is high. Social media adds a layer of constant comparison and curated perfection. So maybe the real rebellion is not caring out loud—but caring quietly.
Through small businesses, community art, mental health advocacy, and simply choosing peace over hustle.
We need to stop mistaking silence for apathy, and disinterest for disconnection. Young people do care—but not always in the ways the system expects. Maybe they’re not marching every week or debating on prime-time panels.
But they’re changing the world in other ways—slower, softer, but still significant.
Instead of shaming them, maybe it’s time we listened to their silence. What it’s saying is this: If you want us to care, give us something that feels worth believing in.
