Scientific innovation and invention has lead to the development of a number of computer applications; social networking is taking center stage in young adults’ life as they use them to communicate and share ideas. Youth groups, youth ministries, young movements, and governments are using the sites to empower the young in different contexts (Sasha, 2011). This paper discusses how social networks can be used to empower youth in a society.
Literature review
The number of young reaching and accessing social networks through the communication networks created by the sites are massive; when youth empowering group want to pass some information, then it can create post in the social network and within some few minutes, a large population will have the message delivered.
Such a message may be carrying crucial information that can assist in young empowerment. For example if the government is concerned about the health condition among the youth, it can post a documentary with some attracting feature that explain to the youth on what they need to do not to suffer.
Youth in different areas experience different life experiences; it is through social networks that they get a chance to share the experiences and assist each over. With the kind of posts and suggestions that other people offer, the youth in problem can have his way out. For example, it is common to have job adverts or job connection done over the internet; this helps people with a certain experience to get the post and apply for a job (ProCon.org, 2011).
The increasing use of the sites has made them good places to train and advertise for various youth programs and activities; ministries of youth have realized the new way of approaching the young and they are using the sites to discuss youth issues. From time to time, the youth are encouraged to talk about a certain issue. When they air out their views and express what they feel, then the policy makers can connect to the ground more easily and know how they can implement youth empowerment programs to the youths.
For example, when youth are facilitated to talk on what they think should be done to reduce unemployment, the government may be thinking the best approach is to offer job opportunities in ministries or industries but when they facilitated the dialogue, they find that the youth have the potential and intellectualism to start their own businesses. When such parameters are learnt, then the government is able to implement responsive empowerment programs that will facilitate their development.
One reason why young are not empowered is lack of information on various issues of their own interest; they also get misleading information which may end up ruining their lives. When using the sites informed people among the young or from other grouts can exert their authority and train the young on the right path. Experiences shared among the youth can be of paramount in determining the way they take a certain issue or conduct their businesses. This leads to youth empowerment (Hoover, 2009).
Conclusion
Technological development has lead to the growth of social networks, the sites has increasingly been used by youths to access information and share optioning and ideas. Policy makers interested with young empowerment either through promotion of good behavior or through enlightenment can use the sites to pass the information.
References
Hoover, L., 2009. How Social Networking Has Changed Society Web.
ProCon.org. ,2011. Are social networking sites good for our society? Web.
Sasha, M., 2011. The Social Network and Society. Web.