Recent History of American Youth
From political idealism to MTV
The 1960s and 1970s are remembered as highly politicised decades for American youth. These decades are strongly associated with political idealism and activism. Young people became leaders of many civil rights movements around this time.
Youth vs. Nam
The Vietnam War gave youth a single, galvanising aim over which to come together and react.
In 1969, anti-war protests, led mainly by youth, became a major predicament for the Nixon administration. Kissinger, in his memoirs, blamed the dissention on child-rearing practices, claiming that it was his generation who had ‘failed them by encouraging self-indulgence and neglecting to provide roots’.
However, no matter how they tried to explain it, ‘the youth problem’ became one that the administration was forced to address.
Eventually the administration reluctantly conceded to communicating with the young anti-war groups. Its concessions did not last long, however, for a group of young antiwar protesters were indicted for conspiracy to incite a 1968 riot, and this became a rallying point for antiwar activists.
The administration warned that further prosecutions would be forthcoming. However, not long after this event, it was announced 25,000 US troops would be withdrawn from Vietnam. The withdrawal was provoked by the fear of further riots. It was a major triumph for American youth.
Youth Given a Cause Worth Fighting For
With their country as one of the two superpowers engaged in the stalemate of the Cold War, US youth were given another cause around which to organise. Not long after the end of the Cold War, the Gulf War was another platform for US youth grievance.
During these times of national stress, US youth exhibited an increased interest in their government’s policies, particularly since they were the ones being drafted to fight abroad, or having to practice ‘duck and cover’ drills in case of attack from a foreign enemy. As in the case of Vietnam, American youth were able to affect their government’s policies in a real way.
However, things were about to change dramatically...
The MTV Generation is Born
The advent of MTV, in 1981, was the birth of a new generation - also known as Generation Y. With its satirical, witty, flashy programming targeted directly at youth, a new version of youth culture was born, or possibly just digitally enhanced.
Youth came to expect the fast-paced, constantly entertaining, non-political and non-academic programming from their everyday lives. This has led to the perception of youth being desensitised to important political events, for television marketers resorting to increased shock-and-awe tactics to maintain youth attention have exploited their emotions.
Though this is happening all over the world with the spread and convergence of mass media, it is particularly pronounced in America. Now MTV youth are turning from the TV to the computer screen. It's not a big move (just a turn of the chair), and could be equally brain-numbing, depending on what they are viewing.
It's a long way from their recent past protesting. Perhaps they will find strength in their new administration to reorganize and re-engage. If they could just tear their eyes away from the screen...
Their protests ended the war
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