Understanding Youth Challenges in a Changing World

July 15, 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the UN Declaration of World Youth Skills Day. This year’s theme highlights Youth Empowerment through AI. To mark the occasion, NACTV summer student Keira McKay sat down with fellow youth members Chelsea Powers and Ethan Roels in Neepawa to discuss AI, digital skills, and other challenges young people are facing today.

The Advantages & Disadvantages of AI & Digital Skills

Chelsea Powers noted that while AI has been around for some time, it’s now entering the mainstream. “Especially in places like libraries, AI can replace some of the work people do. For artists, it can take opportunities away,” she explained. “It can be a good thing, but it needs moderation. You can’t rely on it completely—like for university or high school work—because if you keep depending on it, you lose your own skills.”

High school student Ethan Roels agreed, adding that while he’s learned about AI in computer courses, he finds it unreliable. “It often spreads misinformation, and it can encourage people to steal work from the internet,” he said.

Keira shared her own strong opinion: “My personal take is that I despise AI. Not just as an artist, but also as a student and writer. I’ve even been accused of using AI when I’ve never opened ChatGPT in my life. When you’re writing your opinion, you don’t need a bot to tell you your thoughts—you should be able to think for yourself. That’s why I find it so harmful.”

Employment Challenges Facing Youth

Beyond AI, the group also discussed another major challenge for young people: employment. “Employers expect you to have five years of experience just to get in the door,” said Powers. “As soon as you graduate, you’re asked what work experience you have. But how can you get experience if no one will give you the first job?”

McKay also reflected on her peers’ frustrations in today’s job market. “Yes, it’s hard to find a job, but I’ve also seen people use that as an excuse to be racist,” she said. “Some blame immigrants for ‘taking jobs,’ but often it’s more about attitude. You can’t complain about not getting hired if you aren’t really trying or showing the kind of decency needed in the workplace.”

Giving Youth a Platform

This discussion made clear how important it is to give young people more opportunities to voice their concerns. Today’s youth are growing up in a far more complex, fast-paced world than previous generations. Listening to their perspectives and acknowledging their realities is essential to building better policies for their future.