Many of us wake up every morning and check social media before rising from our beds. Opening Snapchat, users find “news” stories about Kylie Jenner’s newborn baby, the relationship status of Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber, and other news fillers.

    Pop culture creates a barrier between young adults and news issues; the social media platforms we love do not prioritize social awareness. Pop culture distracts us from reality.

    Any student who has Snapchat can see that news stories in the story section cover things like how to know if your significant other loves you, or how to know if you’re a good kisser, yet social issues are often found at the very bottom of the list. The lack of awareness this creates will eventually catch up with us. If we don’t learn how to be aware and get involved, we will never be capable, self-sufficient contributors to our society.

    A report by Common Sense Media showed teens spend an average of nine hours on social media per day. Naturally, the way our generation views the world is going to be affected.      

   The world is larger than a phone or computer screen. It’s important to invest in the future by acknowledging the problems our world is facing. Instead of picking up your phone in the morning and immediately checking last night’s Snapchat stories or Instagram posts, check a neutral news source such as CBS or NBC.

    Although the current state of global affairs can be overwhelming and frustrating, lack of awareness breeds ignorance. All too soon, we will be voting on important things such as political leaders, new laws, and health care systems; a lack of knowledge about our country’s affairs will lead to a skewed  vote—if we even

 choose to vote at all.

    Pop culture has blinded young minds from the harsh realities of  today’s world. Although many issues are publicized, such as Florida’s school shooting, gun control, sexual 

harassment in Hollywood, or the problems of plastic pollution, there are many world issues youth are unaware of.

   Recently, President Trump announced increased sanctions on North Korea, 13 Russians have been indicted as of Feb. 16 for interfering in the 2016 presidential election, and women in Iran are starting a revolution against a law requiring them to wear hijabs. The Women’s March Association has called for a national school walkout to protest gun violence on Mar. 14, and there is a major water crisis in Africa; most of these stories appear in the mainstream media with a quick search, but the reality is, youth aren’t aware of these issues.

    Choose to be aware when on social media, and take social issues into consideration when thinking of school projects or community service. 

    Instead of overwhelming yourself with news about Hollywood, which doesn’t have anything to do with the direction we are heading in as a country or society, think about what you can do to make the world a safer and better place for us all. Make the conscious decision to read the news or talk to your family and friends about politics. Look up world issues and how they are impacting people across the world. When you reach for your phone because you are bored, think of something else you could do with your time—something that will positively impact your community.

    There are so many problems youth could change, but we are often told we are too young to make a difference. This is blatantly incorrect. Students affected by the Parkland, FL shooting are taking a stand against gun violence. They are making public statements in their communities and using social media as a platform for their ideas; their actions have drawn the attention of the whole world.

    Choose to be aware. Be the change and spread the change. Use your voice. Don’t let your beautiful mind be censored by pop culture distractions.  Without aware youth, the state of the world is at stake. The future is in our  hands.