My Youth Culture

Youth Culture. I have spent the past school year studying cultures from the past 75 years. Youth culture from the 70's, Pop culture from the 80's, and high culture of the 50's are things that I have all spend time looking into and studying. But now, it is time for my to look at myself, my generation, my culture. What do I and my friends spend time doing? How do those 5-10 years older than me differ, and what sets my generation apart. I look back on the '70's, '80's and '90's, and can make generalizations about youth in that time. What will my children, grandchildren, and future generations remember of me? How will they generalize my generations lifestyle? It is now time for me to take an in-depth look at myself. It is time to talk about my Youth Culture.

First came computers, then came the Internet, and then came Social Media. A new form of communication and interaction at a technological level. The unique thing about Social Media is that, since it everything is so instant, what was cool yesterday may be a platform that is mocked tomorrow. For example, early forms include things like MySpace and AOL Instant Messenger that are now considered the extinct ancestors of modern media. Even Facebook, created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, is starting to lose to other new forms of virtual interaction. Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Twitter, YikYak and many, many others are all examples of popular media platforms that most everybody uses. Social Media is way to connect with everyone, from friends to acquaintances. I can share my life with anyone who will lend an ear to hear.

While there is valid criticism about the constant use of Social Media, and the instant connection we can have with those around us, I think it is important to note that it isn't usually from the youth. You don't hear 25 year-olds complaining about how they can share little snapshots of their life with their friends. It is usually the parents, those 40+ people, who voice their concern with it. The reason that the youth don't have issues with it is because it is all we have known. I have always had access to the internet, to Google, Youtube (although filtered), and to Media. I don't know what is it like to live without being able to just shoot a quick message to my friend. It is difficult for me to imagine a world without this. It is difficult for my peers to, as well. We have not known a world without Media, Computers, and Internet. This is why we don't really see the problem. It is our parents and grandparents, the previous generations, who see the issue. They know what it was like without it, they spent the majority of their life without it. They know what we can lose because of it. While I admit that many of the problems that people have with Social Media are very valid, I am noting that it isn't the youth who usually see it. We may agree, but we certainly won't ever give it up.

A very key piece of media in my generation is Youtube. This is because so many pop icons are now coming from this platform. Justin Bieber originated on Youtube and was turned into a major pop star. Even T.V. shows utilize Youtube. Music shows like The Voice and The X-Factor upload clips from the show because many people will just want to hear one song, or see just one performance. Likewise, late-night shows like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon sometimes will try to create certain parts of the show that air on television, but also are meant to go viral online. Aside from just television on Youtube, there is now a whole new form of celebrity. They are not actors, singers, or politicians. Rather, Youtube stars are people who have skill, personality and creativity that they share with the internet. Whether it be a weird quirk, strange skill, or impressive talent, they all share people. From vlogging to short videos where they talk about something important, they can share what they want, and they can gain popularity and reach a near celebrity status. There is a more dangerous, dark side to Youtube that cannot be ignored. One can easily and accidentally end up clicking on a pornographic, or just down right gross video that they don't want to see. Youtube can be dangerous, but I think some people don't take into consideration that simply using the internet can be dangerous. You are just as likely to find some terrible thing on Google as you are on Youtube. Even with the risks, Youtube must be recognized as something that not only has changed the way my generation looks at fame, but also the has changed the way we enjoy visual media.

Social Media is something that will be remembered by the generations to come. It is not going away, and I think, like with the invention of the wheel and cotton candy, history will smile back on its creation. However, another way that I think history will remember my Youth Culture is how we label ourselves. From being 'Basic' to being a Potterhead, my generation labels itself, and not in the way people over the past 30 years have. No longer are there the prepsters, Emos, and other classic subcultures, but rather there are a few shining ones that will be remembered. First, 'Basic' people. The group of people who follow the safe trends. Girls are often associated with things like Starbucks (specifically loving the Pumpkin Spice Lattes), Iphones, Uggs and scarfs. They follow what they know, and what is safe. I tend to believe that every person in my generation has a little bit of a 'Basic' person in themselves. A second subculture that I will be remembered really started with the creation of Social Media like Tumblr. The Fandoms. Now, if you read or watch something, you can follow people who also love the same things as you. Every fandom has a name. For example, the Harry Potter fandom is filled with people called 'Potterheads'. People who are in fandoms are often considered Nerdy and Geeky. Attributes of these people are: 'Shipping' characters, feeling all the feels, writing fan-fics, buying T-shirts, having strong theories and ideas about back stories, and just loving a book.

So, looking at my culture, and thinking about how history will remember us, I think the biggest thing that has happened is Social Media. It completely changed how we interact and how what is acceptable. I think that the future generations will see us as a bunch of basic people, who were the guinea pigs for the future. We are the people who are testing out Social Media and the amazing, ever changing and growing technology we have. And while I am sure that many past generations thought the same thing as me, I think that my Youth Culture is cutting a path for those to follow. I am the start of the future. That is how I want to be remembered.
 

Yes, I can tell you exactly what each represent.