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A young college student friend, a few years younger than me, shared an interesting story with me one day. During the meal, he was reprimanded by distant elders for "playing with mobile phones while eating", and fiercely criticized the "post-00s" group for 15 minutes. However, he was actually busy with some urgent matters, which made him laugh and cry. This little thing got me thinking: our stereotypes of a particular generation or group are often oversimplified. We are accustomed to summarizing them as "the younger generation likes to play mobile games, memes are their common language, and they are keen to watch 30-second short movies that have no memory points", and we think that they do not want to communicate face-to-face. But does this really represent them in their entirety?
In a recent speech, Mr Xia Baolong emphasized that young people are at the heart of Hong Kong's future and hope. He put forward his expectations for young people: love the country and Hong Kong, show a fighting attitude, and write a wonderful life with practical actions. This speech is not only an inspiration and expectation for young people, but also provides us with a new perspective for thinking about youth policy. To gain a deeper understanding, I read a book based on a large amount of data research, the Generation I Report.
The digital lifestyle of Gen I
The Generation I Report provides an in-depth look at the generation of young people born between 1995 and 2012 who grew up in an environment where digitalization and the Internet are rapidly evolving. These backgrounds profoundly shape their lifestyles and values. These young people are often described as a generation with their heads buried in the screen, exploring the world and building relationships through digital screens. But this model often fails to give them a true insight into the multiple dimensions of real life. On social media, people strive to be their best selves, a phenomenon that may have given them a distorted view of real life.
Challenges on social media
Gen I faces challenges in processing information. In this era of information explosion, their reading is often a quick glance and a sweep. This leads to problems with concentration and deep understanding. At the same time, despite growing up in a relatively safe environment, they endure unprecedented insecurity. This feeling stems from the mixed information that their parents received about their education and lifestyle, as well as the widening gap between rich and poor in society. Gen I, who are completely dependent on the Internet, are not good at interacting with people in the real world, and their childhood is prolonged and their maturity is delayed, forming a new generation that is very different from the "millennials", "Gen Xers", and "baby boomers".
Future-oriented policy recommendations
To nurture Gen I youth to thrive in a rapidly changing era, there is an urgent need for a series of policies that are both forward-looking and inclusive. First and foremost, in the education system, we should strengthen the teaching of national and national histories as a way to deepen young people's awareness and understanding of their cultural identity. Second, the government should work to create more job opportunities, especially internships in the fields of technology and innovation, to provide young people with hands-on experience and space for career growth. In addition, the mental health of young people should not be neglected, and we should provide them with the necessary support and resources to help them maintain stability under psychological stress.
The participation of young people in the policy-making process is key to ensuring that policies are relevant to their real needs. Only by understanding their expectations and needs can we construct policies that truly respond to their needs. Governments should therefore encourage the participation of young people at all stages of policy-making so that they can become agents of social change.
In the context of the new era, the youth of Generation I will usher in more opportunities and challenges. Our policies and support measures need to keep pace with the challenges we face, such as the high cost of university education and mental health issues. By providing mental health support services such as crisis intervention, we aim to help Gen I reach their full potential and contribute to the prosperity and development of Hong Kong and the country.
Text: Ye Junsheng
Democratic Ideas District Officer, candidate for the 2023 District Council Election. Focus on youth affairs and environmental issues. It is believed that social progress can only be promoted by seeking consensus while respecting differences.
*The views of the author's article do not represent the position of Jianliu.com