Vic. Antonius Mat Simin, S.Th gave a seminar on Today’s Youth Challenges for AMKI in the Sayan River Sector, Melawi Regency

SINTANG NEWS – Today (12/12/2024) VIC. Antonius, S.Th Shepherd GKII Gracia Sintang delivered a seminar “Today’s Youth Challenges” for the Indonesian Christian Youth Force (AMKI) in the Sayan River Sector, Melawi Regency. He said that “today’s youth are faced with extraordinary developments in technology and social media. Young Christian generations need to be given the enthusiasm to continue to believe and rely on God in their lives,” he said in the seminar.

Challenges of Today’s Youth (Culture-Moral-Psychology)

Ah, the challenges of today’s youth. Honestly, just thinking about it makes me both nostalgic and empathetic. Growing up wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for me, but when I compare it to what teenagers and young adults deal with now? Whew, it feels like they’ve been handed a whole other level of complexity.

Let’s start with culture because, oh boy, does that play a big role. I remember growing up in a time when the biggest cultural pressure was choosing between a Walkman or a CD player. Now? Teens are navigating a digital culture that moves at lightning speed. One minute, a trend is hot on TikTok, and the next, it’s cringe-worthy. And the FOMO (fear of missing out) is real. I had FOMO over missing a sleepover—today’s youth are worried about missing global trends and the algorithm punishing their posts. It’s wild.

One of my younger cousins confided in me recently about feeling overwhelmed by how curated everyone’s life looks online. “Everyone has the perfect body, the perfect trip, the perfect friend group,” she said, scrolling through Instagram. I get it—when I was younger, comparison was limited to the kids in your school. Now, they’re comparing themselves to influencers with professional photo shoots and PR teams. It’s no wonder body image issues and self-esteem problems are skyrocketing.

And speaking of skyrocketing issues—let’s dive into the moral challenges. There’s this weird tension between wanting to stand for something and not wanting to get canceled for saying the wrong thing. The internet doesn’t forget. If a 16-year-old posts something even remotely controversial, they risk public backlash. Mistakes used to be private; now, they can haunt you forever online. I’ve seen kids too afraid to voice their opinions because what if someone screenshots it and takes it out of context? How are they supposed to learn, grow, and develop values if every misstep feels catastrophic?

Psychologically, the stakes feel just as high. Anxiety and depression rates among youth are at an all-time high. I once read that Gen Z is often referred to as the “therapy generation.” They’re so self-aware, which is great, but the constant introspection can sometimes feel like a double-edged sword. Social media doesn’t help either. The dopamine hits from likes and comments create this addictive cycle. It’s like their worth is tied to metrics they can’t control. I mean, I’ve felt that sting before when a post didn’t do well—but for them, it’s magnified a hundred times.

One of the things I’ve noticed, though, is that they’re incredibly resilient. They’re standing up for mental health, fighting for social justice, and trying to navigate this moral maze with honesty. It’s inspiring, but it’s also exhausting for them. They’re carrying so much weight on their shoulders.

My advice for today’s youth? Take a breather. Log off when you need to. The internet isn’t going anywhere, but your mental health is too precious to sacrifice for likes or approval. Find people who support you for who you are—not the version of you with filters and clever captions. And remember, it’s okay to make mistakes. They’re how you grow. We’ve all been there.

The challenges may feel overwhelming, but I truly believe that this generation has the potential to overcome them in ways we can’t even imagine. They’ve got grit—now, they just need to give themselves grace.