Over the last five years, the role of youth in shaping their destiny has come under scrutiny. Revolutions and protests all over the globe have been inspired by increased disenchantment with the old order on the background of increasing access to information. With PEW Research indicating that over 67% of Internet users are less than 25 years, Cohen Group president, Jeffrey Cohen, predicts that these young people will lead a technology evolution.
Speaking to a group of young innovators in NYC, the futuristic speaker Jeffrey Cohen Optical was adamant that this group couldn't be ignored any more.
"Since civilization, the role of the young people in shaping their destiny has been ignored. Well, this has come at a great cost because young Turks led most revolutions including the French and Bolshevik. Today, we are faring no better and you just have to observe the dialogue on online forums to appreciate this," Cohen observed.
"These young people have more time on their hands and they can use that time either to think positively or spread anarchy. What I can categorically state today is that these thinkers are going to shape the future either through a youth technological revolution or through sabotage," he warned.
The role of the young people in modern society has become a heated debate especially with increasing use of the Internet. They are able to connect globally, hack into government websites, leak classified information and cause havoc. On the other hand, they have also been credited with the ongoing Internet revolution with the likes of Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg being cited as today's visionaries.
Cohen's views have been supported by opinion shapers such as Bill Gates, who has been influential in supporting youth technological movements across the world. Other foundations set up by Google, Apple and the World Bank all focus on tapping the youth's energy. It is obvious that Cohen's predictions will not take long to materialize if the world continues ignoring the youth.