Greta Thunburg, the youngest teen climate activist, despite being reviled, is seen with a mark of admiration by both younger and older generations. She not only has challenged governments to focus more on climate issues, but she holds the voice of many young people who are often rejected for their views on current issues because of their age. Youth activists, like Thunburg, can change the way people think, compelling authority figures to enact a change that can benefit future generations. Like Thungburg’s ability to challenge current issues, many instances of youth activism have shaped the way our society reacts to problems.

The Children’s Crusade is one of them. In 1963, children at the age 14 and older, skipped school to protest segregation ideologies in Alabama. This movement, although done by the younger generation, pushed the civil rights movement to abolish segregation laws, specifically the Jim Crow laws. 

More recently, the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020 gained immense traction as younger generations and activists protested the unjust murder of George Floyd. Spanning from 15 million to 26 million people, groups from throughout the United States participated in one of the largest black rights matter movements in the United States. According to Statista, an organization that provides data on world issues, the age group that most strongly supported this movement was the younger generation. What must be understood is that the younger generation has a voice that has begun to be taken more seriously, which can also be seen through recent political candidates’ platforming toward younger audiences.

In 2021, Amanda Gorman became the youngest poet to speak at a U.S. presidential inauguration, mentioning issues that were imperative for the audience to recognize. At the mere age of 22, Gorman recited “The Hill We Climb,” highlighting the struggle for unity and the pathway to a bright equal future in America. She started writing poetry at the age of 14, and through hard work, wrote a poem commended to be awe-striking by younger and older generations.

Like Gorman, many youth activists have the power to change societal views through their voices. Being a youth activist doesn’t mean that one has to reach the level of the White House to make any real change, but even simply creating petitions or showing support for a cause can be a footstep on a bigger scale. It is imperative to use the voice of the younger generation to make an impact and in a time where there are still social injustices thriving in our world, now is the time to do it.