You Do Not Get to Complain About Youth if You Choose to Not Help Foster a Better World for Them
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Let’s just get this out there, if you’re going to spend your time complaining about how Gen Z or Gen Alpha are living their lives, how they dress, what slang they use, what they eat, or even how they choose to raise children of their own, then maybe check yourself. Not every Boomer, Gen Xer, or elder Millennial operates this way, and thank the universe for that. There are plenty of adults who quietly mind their own business and actually show compassion. But … here’s the thing: the loud ones? The ones whose opinions dominate comment sections, coffee shop conversations, and social media threads? They can be are downright cruel.
Complaining About the Young Is Easy
Pointing out the “flaws” in younger generations is basically a sport at this point. “Kids these days can’t dress themselves,” “They use slang that makes no sense,” “They don’t eat like we did!” and of course, the perennial favorite: “They’re ruining everything.”
It’s an easy hobby because it doesn’t require actual work or effort. It’s cheap to gripe from a place of privilege, especially when that privilege includes having the resources to not personally experience what the younger generation is going through. But, what’s not cheap, or easy, for that matter, is actually fostering a world where these kids can thrive.
Here’s the kicker: many of the same people who complain are okay with actively making life harder for the very groups they criticize.
Policies That Hurt Kids (But Don’t Affect Them Personally)
Let’s get specific. A lot of adults in older generations voted for policies / administrations that make children’s lives (and the lives of their parents) a hell of a lot harder. They voted for cuts to programs that support families, kids, and vulnerable communities. They shrug when funding for public programming, think Sesame Street/PBS, and other educational shows that teach letters, numbers, emotional regulation, and life skills, are slashed. They nod along while medical services are withheld from children, LGBTQIA+ families, and low-income households. Library funding? Shrinking. SNAP benefits? Reduced, or eliminated entirely. USPS? Underfunded. The American Public Education System? F*cked.
Why? Because they can afford to pay for these services themselves, so they assume everyone else can too. They literally think kids should go hungry if their families can’t pay, because “that’s life” or “they’ll learn responsibility.” Spoiler alert: that’s not responsibility, that’s cruelty disguised as “logic.”
So, if you’re actively okay with a world where some kids go without the basic building blocks for education, health, and nourishment, then maybe … just maybe … you shouldn’t complain about how the same kids (and again, their parents) are navigating life.
Complaining Without Action is Just Hypocrisy
It’s easy to point fingers at youth when you’re living in a bubble of comfort ... but complaining about the way someone dresses, talks, or raises their children while supporting policies that make their lives harder is … well, hypocritical. You’re judging without contributing. You’re criticizing without building.
This isn’t to say that every Boomer, Gen Xer, or older Millennial fits this mold. (I really do mean that.) Plenty are thoughtful, engaged, and actively contributing to a better world for kids. They’re volunteering, donating, mentoring, and using their influence for good. The issue is the vocal minority, the ones whose opinions are amplified and whose actions (or inaction) actively harm the very generations they criticize.
When you’re okay with children missing out on educational resources, proper healthcare, and basic necessities, your complaints about their food choices/dietary restrictions or slang are irrelevant. They lack moral standing because they aren’t contributing to a system that actually nurtures the next generation.
Foster, Don’t Tear Down
Here’s the thing: if we want society to function better, we need to focus on fostering, not tearing down. The kids of today are growing up in a world with very different challenges than what older generations faced. They’re navigating climate change anxiety, digital overload, mental health crises, and social inequality in ways that are unprecedented.
… and guess what? They’re also doing an incredible job at adapting, innovating, and finding ways to make life better despite the obstacles. From advocating for environmental policies to embracing diversity and inclusivity, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are building the world we’ll all live in tomorrow.
If adults want to critique, maybe the first step is asking themselves:
Am I supporting programs that help kids thrive?
Am I creating spaces where children have access to education, food, healthcare, and safe communities?
Am I uplifting those with less than me, or just complaining from my comfy chair?
A Call to Action
Adults can, and should, help foster a better world for kids. That doesn’t mean you can’t have opinions about what’s happening in pop culture, or how younger generations navigate life. It does mean you have a responsibility to back up your opinions with action that contributes positively.
We should all strive to:
Support educational programming, libraries, and public media.
Advocate for policies that protect and empower children.
Mentor, donate, or volunteer where we can.
Avoid cruel judgments based solely on generational differences.
It’s about building up, not tearing down. Complaining is cheap, action is not.
Not every older adult is guilty of criticizing youth without fostering positive change. Plenty of Boomers, Gen Xers, and older Millennials are making incredible contributions. But the ones who are vocal, judgmental, and cruel? They have no moral ground to stand on. You literally cannot complain about the choices of youth while actively or passively supporting a society that makes life harder for them.
We as a society should uplift those who have less, support those who are growing up with fewer resources, and actively participate in creating systems that benefit everyone. Criticism without contribution is empty … cynicism without action is meaningless ... and yes, that applies to the people who are busy complaining about slang, clothing, and parenting styles online.
So, if you’re going to have an opinion about today’s youth, make sure it’s informed, compassionate, and backed by tangible action. Otherwise … zip it, and try helping instead.
Complaining about Gen Z and Gen Alpha while voting for policies and systems that harm them is hypocritical, and cruel. Not every older adult is guilty, but those who are should ask themselves: are you uplifting the next generation or just tearing them down? Society works better when we support each other, not when we criticize from a place of privilege.
A Personal Note
As a married, working mother to two small children who has never had to worry about whether or not we’ll have diapers and wipes to keep our kids clean, formula and snacks to keep our kids fed, access to medical care to keep us well, a warm, dry house to keep us safe, cash in the bank for a rainy day fund or the necessities of life, clothing to help us stay comfortable and feeling ourselves, and plenty of toys, books and everything in between to keep us entertained for days on end, my heart aches knowing there are children here in the USA and across the globe that don’t have the same privileges.
My heart aches for the PARENTS whose hearts are aching and whose stress levels are through the roof wondering how they’ll keep their babies fed, safe, and feeling loved.
Instead of steeping in my sadness with no action, I want to remind those of you who are in a similar position to myself and my family (whether you have children or not,) to please use your place of privilege for good.
I read a quote somewhat recently that resonated with me heavily, it said “Sometimes, the price of community is inconvenience,” which couldn’t be more than true.
It seems these days, nobody can be “inconvenienced” by showing up for others, whether that’s being present physically, emotionally, monetarily or otherwise. It really is not difficult to show up for others, whatever that may look like for you.
I work full time in addition to running my own business full time, while having two small children at home with me while I WFH all day. That means I quite literally don’t have time to volunteer in-person, so instead, volunteering and showing up for me looks like donating $$$, amplifying minority voices and good causes online, and offering my business services free of charge to organizations that need it. (You’d be surprised how much providing services can be helpful! It’s not just about money and showing up (which does obviously help as well,) but it’s about your time and intentions.)
Please find a way you can contribute if you’re in a position similar to myself, and if you find yourself on the side of being in need, here are some resources you may find helpful:
Food Related Resources
Feed America (multiple resources on their homepage.)
Food Finder (find a list of your closest food pantries.)
Find a Freedge (find community fridges around the world.)
Food Access Resources from Feeding America
Medical Care Access for Low-Income Individuals and Families
NAFC (National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.)
Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Information
HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration - Find free or low-cost health services.)
Planned Parenthood (Affordable care options - including: Birth control, breast/chest exams, fertility care, abortion care, LGBTQIA+ care, PEP/PrEP (for HIV prevention,) Telehealth options, STD/STI testing and treatment, UTI treatment, vaginal and bladder infection care, menopause care and SO MUCH MORE.) (Depending on which state you live in, not ALL programs/care options may be available to you, please check the PP website for more information on what care is available to you.)
HealthCare.gov (How to find low-cost health care in your community.)
Educational Resources
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Low Income Survivors to Thrivers (Free and Discounted Resources in the USA.)
U.S. Department of Education (Resources for Families.)
Financial Assistance for Families through ChildCare.gov
Mental Health Resources
Resource Library from The Mental Health Coalition
Thousand Branches Wellness (Outpatient Wellness and Mental Health Care.)
Mental Health Resources (CDC.gov)
Help for Mental Illnesses (National Institute of Mental Health.)
Native American Resources
NICWA (National Indian Child Welfare Association.)
POC and Immigration Resources
AAPI Resources (Asian American and Pacific Islander Resource Library.)
Community Resources for Black Individuals and Families from Avent Interventional Psychiatry
ILRC Community Resources (Immigrant Legal Resource Center.)
National Immigration Law Center Resources
If none of these resources apply to you and you are in need of some sort of other assistance, PLEASE reach out to us via the Contact Tab or by email at connect @mochidigitalmarketing.com.
You are also welcome to DM me on Instagram at @MochiByMia.
Be well, and remember you are loved, invaluable, and irreplaceable.
“I’m pulling for you, we’re all in this together, keep your stick on the ice.” - Red Green
