The Young Are Making Their World: Essays on the Power of Youth Culture

Young people have long used-and essentially created-popular culture to explore, define and express who they are. For many, popular culture is also a tool of survival. Gone are the days when a set of proscriptive programs or institutions were needed for young people to transition to adulthood. Today, youth culture is communicated and expanded through information technology-particularly social media-enabling young people to remain relevant and to engage the world. Yet, as with previous generations, youth culture is often a cause of concern for adults and policy makers. This collection of new essays focuses on modern youth popular culture and its influence on communities. Topics include social justice and youth mobilization in Ferguson, Missouri, social media and sexual literacy among LGBT youth, and youth culture's influence on children's sports.