Wed, Oct 15 · 6:30 PM EDT
We will be at Southeast Regional Library in Room B
About the Group:
This is a friendly Socratic Café where we explore big ideas through open conversation. No philosophy background is needed, just curiosity, respect, and a willingness to share and listen.
Given that young people today are inheriting complex global issues like climate change and political instability, is their apparent apathy less about not caring and more a psychological defense mechanism against overwhelming anxiety? How does this compare to past generations where global threats, like the Cold War, were present but the constant, instant access to information was not?
With the rise of social media, kids' social lives are now constantly curated and publicly performed. How does the pressure to maintain a perfect digital identity contribute to increased anxiety and depression, and how might this constant performance drain the energy they might otherwise have for engaging with real-world political issues?
Past generations often had more unsupervised free time and direct, unmediated interaction with their peers. How has the shift towards structured activities and digitally-mediated friendships impacted children's ability to develop resilience, coping skills, and a sense of agency in the world around them?
We see a paradox where kids have access to more information than any generation in history, yet often seem disengaged from traditional politics. Is it possible they are not apathetic, but are instead engaging in different, less visible forms of political expression (like online activism, ethical consumerism, or identity politics) that older generations may not recognize as valid?
Considering the increased awareness of mental health today, are we simply better at identifying and diagnosing anxiety and depression that has always been present, or has the fundamental experience of growing up in the 21st century created new pressures that are genuinely more damaging to a child's well-being and sense of hope for the future?
How does the economic outlook for young people today—facing student debt, a volatile job market, and a housing crisis—impact their capacity to care about abstract political issues when their own immediate future feels so insecure?
Past generations had social movements with tangible, often visible goals (e.g., civil rights, ending a war). Do today’s immense, complex problems like climate change or global economic inequality seem so unsolvable that they foster cynicism and make apathy feel like the only rational response?
With trust in major institutions (government, media, corporations) at a generational low, is what we label as "apathy" actually a conscious and deliberate rejection of a political system that young people feel has failed them and doesn't represent their interests?
We often see intense bursts of youth activism, like the climate strikes or social justice protests. Could some of the general apathy we observe be the result of emotional burnout after young people pour their energy into these movements but see little fundamental change from those in power?
How has the nature of "safety" changed for kids? While they may be physically safer from neighborhood dangers than past generations, are they psychologically less safe due to online bullying, global news threats, and school shooting drills, and does this constant state of high alert leave little room for civic engagement?
Social media encourages us to curate our lives and build a personal "brand." How does this intense focus on the self and individual identity potentially conflict with the idea of collective action and sacrificing for the common good that is necessary for political change?
Past generations had fewer entertainment options. Now, with infinite streaming, video games, and social media feeds, how much is apathy a form of escapism —a choice to retreat into a digital world that is more controllable and rewarding than a real world that feels overwhelming?
Is it possible that young people do care deeply, but the traditional avenues of political participation (like voting or joining a political party) feel outdated and ineffective to a generation that has grown up organizing and communicating in completely new ways online?
How has the decline of local community institutions—like town centers, local clubs, and unions—and the rise of global, digital communities changed how young people view their role and power? Do they feel more like powerless global citizens than empowered local ones?
Does the 24/7 news cycle, which profits from outrage and fear, present young people with a vision of the world so consistently negative that it paralyzes them with "learned helplessness," making them feel that any action they take is ultimately futile?
