2017 is ending on an unexpectedly positive note, with a rare sighting of a calm and intelligent discussion from people in power (kidding, but not really).
An interview aired this morning on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, featuring all-time-bae Prince Harry interviewing former President and other all-time-bae Barack Obama on his presidency, Trump’s inauguration, and other light topics like, you know, the future of politics.
It emerged that both Obama and Prince Harry are huge advocates for the power of young people. Obama quite literally sang our praises: ‘this generation coming up is the most sophisticated, the most tolerant, in many ways, the most embracing of diversity, the most tech-savvy, the most entrepreneurial. But they don’t have much faith in existing institutions.’
Clearly trying to assuage our sadness at being taken off the market, Harry agreed that young people are pretty great. ‘It’s too easy for people to criticise millennials for being superficial, selfish and self-obsessed’ he replied.
Of course, when people are talking about ‘millennials’, the conversation has to turn to social media. But rather than the usual rhetoric of ‘social media is a cesspit of lies and/or hatred’, Obama made a refreshing point about the physical change that social media activism can bring about. While he encourages young people to use their voice, he wants to ‘make sure that they don’t think that just sending out a hashtag, in and of itself, is bringing about change. It can be a powerful way to raise awareness but you have to get on the ground and you actually have to do something’.
With 2017 seeing protests and marches organised almost exclusively on social media, it’s a motivating message for the new year which we can completely get behind.
The interview was part of the Today programme which was guest-edited by Prince Harry and featured topics close to his heart, including the Armed Forces, conservation and mental health. You can watch the full programme here.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.