BROADCASTS.com

Many of the concerns of NZ youth in their 14 to 15th years is all to do with \u2018image and likes\u2019 \u2013 it all involves smartphones and messaging and being and staying relevant within their peer group. Notes from this important interview: This was a real insight for me as a person in their 70\u2019s. Here is the gist. Just living for the present is essentially where they are at. Nature and whales for example - are not really an issue. He says that global warming is on the radar but not that big as yet \u2013 Greta Thunberg is not yet big - though some of the young girls have started to put out a \u2018care\u2019 on their smartphones as to sort of \u2013 look relevant - not so much with the boys \u2013 but some have \u2026 He also mentions that some will \u2018put out\u2019 that they care \u2013 but actually they will not take any action. So if there is a \u2018viral concern\u2019 this would be it. As for the future \u2013 that\u2019s still a way off \u2013 it\u2019s essentially having fun and it's girls, guys and partying - and then there is school and academic studies. Stating that when they hit 25 years of age - they may have another look at what\u2019s up and what is important. Relationships between guys and gals \u2013 he says after a long in-breath \u2013 are not good. He puts it down to social media \u2013 texting to each other \u2013 there is not a lot of communication that is grounded in a good vocabulary \u2013 how? He says we should not blame social media \u2013 it\u2019s how we are using it (all the time) that it has changed lives and promotes things \u2013 but he says other things have festered out of it \u2013 and there are pros and cons \u2013 and as a result of social media - relationships are quite messy. Jesse says he is in a relationship and dating a gal, and he is not into texting to her. He wants to talk with her, see her expressions on her face, the tonalities of her voice - as well as body actions \u2013 and he says you just can\u2019t get this out of text. Sex between the younger generation \u2013 is in his words - messy. The girls in many ways to remain relevant \u2013 it is all about relevancy \u2013 and many may succumb to exposing themselves. So texts and photos that are intimate are often unscrupulously passed around - and this sort of thing comes back as a vengeance and many embarrassing situations occur. It\u2019s a lose-lose situation \u2013 but to be relevant\u2013 it continues to happen. Covering sex, pregnancy and abortion \u2026 Suicide - listen Instagram \u2013 now does not show likes on posts \u2026 to stop people comparing themselves with other people's \u2018likes\u2019 this is to curtail negative feelings and even suicide \u2013 such is the need for many of the youth to compare themselves with others - but they are still \u2018worried\u2019 about getting the most likes \u2026 Most of the youth are on Instagram and snap chat plus the new one coming up called tick tock \u2013 it\u2019s a 'lip synching' app. He said some youth are still on FB but not as much as the others. When asked if the younger generation feel fortunate \u2013 especially to be living in NZ \u2013 and the answer is that in most cases the youth of today are so caught up in their life with its drama, frustrations and challenges that they do not see themselves as being fortunate. Even though NZ has so much physical beauty, as well as freedom of speech that a lot of other countries don\u2019t have. NZ is a fairly peaceful country too. A majority healthy country !! Youth are so fortunate here - but they do not take time to realise it. When asked about God for today's young teens \u2013 to admit to God \u2013 it is considered and embarrassment \u2013 listen to this \u2026 Karma \u2013 he personally believes in this \u2013 that good things and good vibes generate good things and good vibes \u2026 but, it is not prevalent as a word in the daily narrative of present day youth. He himself does good by just doing life with no expectation that he is going to receive some wonderful good karmic event \u2013 he is just basically doing life and doing it without any expectation ... Baby boomers \u2013 he is not hard on them \u2013 as he sees his generations as not doing a lot as well. 5G tech \u2013 that the baby boomers are concerned about but what of the youth of today who are wedded to 4 G? What is youths take on 5G? Essentially unaware of the health risks etc. However he himself is very aware of what these new technologies can cause. Rubbish on the footpath and rubbish on the beach \u2013 Jesse \u2013 picks it up. Is happy to be a role model. But, this too is not an issue. Covering transgender issues \u2013 especially males entering females races and weight lifting and winning is this fair? \u2013 the challenge around transgender toilets \u2013 listen Parent's \u2013 how he is very close to his parents and love is warmly expressed. They love each other. When asked about his friends relationships with their parents, he said that there is a lot of difficulty at that level. However, he gets on really well with all his friends parents. Communication skills need to be taught especially around being able to coherently express oneself. Verbal skills he says are very important. That it is imperative for good communication - as far too many people are being caught up in the minutiae of millennial problems. Alcohol is a huge problem \u2013 not weed. I came away from this interview basically very concerned about the focus of today\u2019s teenage youth. It's as if a huge manifested bubble based on a construct of social media habits perpetuates itself to compel youth to think that having a new smartphone and texting each other is all that is relevant. This is where we as a country need to address the concerns of our young ones and this has to be led from both the grass roots and from leadership at the very top of our country.