It is now a general trend for people, particularly the younger generation, to convey their feelings and share interesting facts on social media using the shortest possible words. Some individuals even refrain from using any words at all, opting instead to forward materials such as interesting news, photos, or oddly created TikToks. A constraint of time may also be a prime reason.
If we examine the words used in day-to-day interactions on social media, we find some common phrases and typical patterns that are often hollow and rarely convey genuine emotion. Instead, many of them reflect self-pride or an intention to hurt or make others feel jealous. Such conceit and twisted desire can foster cynicism by creating resentment. This behavior creates division and hinders appreciation for one another's successes. I have noticed that many people tease individuals who try to convey their true feelings in an elaborate manner not following the general trend. This practice discourages them from expressing themselves in non-traditional ways, pushing them instead to merge with the masses and participate in trends that are often odd, weird, and copy-pasted. Additionally, the dwindling interest among youth in reading and writing outside of familiar territory is alarming.
In my view, this is a dangerous practice for our new generation, who will lead our nation in the future. Patience in reading and writing articles not only enriches one's knowledge but also helps in setting up personal dreams. Academic study and earning a higher degree do not automatically make someone a true leader capable of steering a nation toward the future.
Fashion and style are ever-changing aspects of the world. People typically prefer to follow current trends, with rare exceptions for those who are highly confident and capable of going against the grain, which can be a challenging task unless they become legendary figures in their fields.
One of the main reasons for this trend is that people often feel the need to fit in with popular styles, which gives them the impression of being truly modern and smart. Like fashion and style, the concept of smartness also changes over time. There will always be talented and intelligent youth in the world, many of whom will find success in their respective fields. However, despite achieving great success, not all of them may be recognized as heroes capable of making significant contributions to society.
If we consider extraordinary, iconic, legendary personalities like Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein, we can see that their character was simple and distinct, diverging from the general trend from their childhood. Abraham Lincoln had little formal education but had a passion for reading. His strong sense of morality and deep belief in education helped him become a great leader. Albert Einstein, as a child, loved reading and exploring new ideas. He had a strong sense of morality and believed that education should encourage curiosity and critical thinking.
Albert Einstein's two important quotes may be relevant at this stage to awaken the many distant genius youth around the world: "Imagination is more important than knowledge" and "The important thing is not to stop questioning." Unfortunately, the new generation, including many genius youth, now suffers from aloofness and tends not to go beyond their prescribed areas of imagination and questioning, which are limited to academic pursuits and small friend circles.
While it may not be possible to become iconic figures like them simply by following prescribed rules, even those with the highest IQs, I believe there are thousands of young people who could be the modern-day equivalents of Lincoln and Einstein. Unfortunately, many of them aim for general success that satisfies their families, depriving society of the benefits of their talents. The primary reason for this is inadequate guidance from both parents and society.
In the present world, we observe a certain level of trade or political influence in recognizing global heroes. As a result, extraordinary individuals sometimes need to fight for recognition. Though malpractice occurred in the past, as seen in the struggles of the great scientist Isaac Newton, he faced challenges in establishing his laws of motion and universal gravitation and gaining recognition for inventing calculus. Despite these obstacles, Newton's persistence laid the foundation for modern physics and mathematics.
Our youth can take note from Newton's experience that even after inventing a world-changing theory, one may need to struggle to establish their invention or gain recognition. The struggles of great men against the prevailing norms or trends of society to serve the nation have been a common phenomenon since the beginning of civilization. In some cases, we witness severe consequences in their lives. The execution of the great philosopher Socrates by society appears as a blatant example of such a tragic episode.
It is the responsibility of society and global leaders to familiarize the younger generation with such great heroes so that talented youth can adopt a path that differs from current trends. Unfortunately, today's highly polluted environment sees global leaders not only misleading the younger generation through various plans but also taking biased actions.
Highly politicized recognition can be a source of frustration for brilliant individuals. The quick and biased recognition of certain individuals as national or global heroes represents a form of global dishonesty in today's world. Nonetheless, true meritocratic individuals should not cease their efforts, as they have the potential to make a significant impact.
Our world needs exceptions among genius youth who don't blindly follow general trends in the pursuit of traditional goals, which often consist of wealth and self-centered happiness. Instead, they should establish themselves in unique ways to set an example despite numerous obstacles. Society needs genius youth whose dreams soar beyond the sky, and we hope that some of them can achieve or invent something extraordinary that shakes the world, just as Lincoln and Einstein did.
Spending time on social media is becoming chronic for many around the world, although it has both positive and negative sides. Society, individuals, and parents of young children must play strong roles in protecting users from its negative impacts. I read an article that mentioned Facebook will make millions of people illiterate soon. If I had the superpower to secretly visit the house of Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, I would definitely do it. My purpose would be to uncover the truth about how many hours his children spend unnecessarily on social media. I am sure he is providing them with proper guidance.
According to media reports, the inventor of Facebook, Mr. Mark Zuckerberg, and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are raising their daughters, Maxima and August, in a balanced environment without social media until they are older. Zuckerberg prioritizes limiting screen time and promoting healthy habits for their children. The entire society should act as parents to guide the younger generation, protecting them from the adverse impacts of social media and helping them pursue a balanced and healthier life, just as Mr. Zuckerberg and his wife have done for their children.
Since we can't expect significant steps from today's leaders, our brilliant young generation should encourage themselves to follow a different path that allows them to pursue big dreams, not confined to personal happiness but aimed at changing the world.
Let our genius young generation adopt a different track, allowing them to set their own goals so that the future world can see many more Lincolns and Einsteins.
The writer is an engineer, industrialist, and science & literature enthusiast
