Malala and Greta, has very little in common. Malala comes from a socially conservative community in Pakistan. It is a country with severely restricted freedom for women and girls despite having had a woman Prime Minister. The military is always present as an invisible ghost in country’s governance. On the contrary Greta comes from Sweden with one of the freest and egalitarian societies with a vibrant economy. Sweden is the birthplace of the second UN Secretary General and also the home of Olaf Palme, a towering personality on issues of human rights. Despite these contrasting background, Malala and Greta has one characteristic in common. They both managed to galvanise the youth globally on two international issues – girls’ education and climate crisis. Their influence on global youth started while they were still in their teenage.
Malala stood tall against the Taliban and took a bullet for her belief in girls’ education and freedom. Her stance has given a new life for the cause of girls’ education everywhere, especially in countries where girls and women remain voiceless and are supressed. Malala has been welcomed in many corridors of power, including in Stockholm City Hall where she was bestowed with Noble Prize in 2014 at age 17 years.
Greta stood tall by sitting in front of Swedish parliament against the abhorrent attitude of the fossil fuel industries and the politicians who continue to be backed by the fossil fuel barons. Her unfiltered speeches galvanised the youth globally that reinvigorated the global movement against climate crisis. Greta too had audiences with various world dignitaries including Presidents, Prime Ministers and the podium at the UN.
From their teen age, Malala and Greta encouraged youth everywhere to take a stance on two very important issues of our times. Since then, we have seen many youths from all continents behind the podium at various global and regional conventions expressing worries about the girls’ issues particularly in the global south and the future of humanity in relation to greenhouse gas emission globally. They both have millions of followers in support of their movement.
Malala’s quote ‘one child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world’ became one of the popular quotes in promoting girls’ education and girls’ freedom, especially in the global south. Similarly, Greta’s ‘how dare you’ challenge to the world leaders during UN general assembly in September 2019 became an identifiable slogan of Greta against the insensitive politicians.
The good, the bad and the ugly
But there are serious problems. Like every human being, Malala and Greta too have many nemeses creating roadblocks in their works, unintentionally as it might be. Every country has a number of singers, entertainers, models, sportsmen, and various media personalities who populate on the (anti)social media, especially the Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat promoting their image and businesses who sponsor them. The way they present themselves have tremendous influences on the general population, particularly the youth and children. Many of them do not know Malala and Greta and may not even have heard of them but the life styles of these celebrities have direct negative impacts on the works of Malala and Greta.
Some 2.82 billion people log into Facebook daily, of whom 1.65 billion are children and youth under the age of 34 years (Statista). The advertisers of the consumer goods, fashion designers, cosmetics, clothing, (in fact anything you can imagine) use singers, entertainers, models, sportsmen and various media personalities through the same (anti)social media platform to reach children and youth. This group of influencers have hundreds of millions of followers who are easily persuaded by their messages and visuals impacting on their life styles.
While Greta is advocating for low emission the life styles promoted by these celebrities are at a diagonally opposite angle. This high maintenance crowed of celebrities is doing a big disservice to the next generation while amassing the coffers of the multinational industries. Facebook alone use 7.1 terra wats hours of energy annually to operate its servers.
Besides the issue of emission, the unattainable life styles promoted in these media is destroying the thinking capacity of the youth and children. The media is telling them to live today and not to worry about tomorrow, considerably narrowing the rationale thinking. These (anti)social media have become an open platform for anyone and everyone to trade their modesty. The media in general is un-educating the public. The ultimate victim is the youth, the next generation. Is it too harsh, may be, but it is the reality.
There are known studies on celebrities’ impacts on body shaming and eating habits of teenagers and youth. Teenagers and youth take to their heart foods and drinks promoted by celebrities; studies in north America found 71% of sugary drinks and 81% of junk foods promoted by celebrities are the most popular drinks and street foods – not suitable for a health living.
Celebrities can have good influence such as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors. But there are not too many of them and they are not where they are most needed.
Adults, especially parents are supposed to provide guidance to children but in this day and age of individual freedom and rights, parents seem to have forgotten how to be a parent; instead, parents have just become friends and next door neighbour.
It is not a suggestion, by any means, for all youth to become Malala or Greta now and to become Mother Teresa and Dalai Lama when they grow older. That kind of world will be simply boring and intolerable. The world needs diversity and entertainment. The crux of the matter is that all these celebrities and the (anti)social media are distorting the minds of children and youth globally with no sense of accountability.
It is not just the question of Malala and Greta. The issue is much wider and deeper than girls’ education and climate crisis. It is the issue of decaying governance and sliding economy everywhere. The youth and the torch bearers of the next generation are least interested on the3se issues which will affect their future. The irresponsible (anti) social media, using youth as their mouthpiece and showpiece is accountable for almost all of our societies’ sickness and decay.
Where will it end?
You can read more by Ramesh by clicking here.
Thank you, Ramesh for your writting about these two young future leaders. I am sure there are many differences as there are a few wonderful similarities between the two young ladies, Malala and Greta. The one most important difference is that Malala almost lost her life. As a young child the violent Talibans shot her because she stood up to them. In return the coward Talibans wanted to shut her up and make her disappear and invisible, just like they have made 50 percent of Afghanistan's 35 million female invisible. I admire both Malala and Greta struggling for the future, for justice in their world for their generation. I wish them both the very best and much success. And I thank you once again. My gratitude and respects to you!
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