If you're reading this, you were probably born in the 2000s. The ohohs. The 21st century.
That would make you young, creative, connected, global, and no doubt smart. Maybe goodlooking, too. Right? But what do other people think about your generation?
Some adults worry that you're more interested in the screen in front of you than the world around you. They think of you as the "facedown generation" because you use your phone so much and they wonder how you will deal with school, friends, and family. Are today's teenagers too busy texting and taking selfies to become successful in real life — or "IRL", as you would say?
Other adults worry that today's youth are spoilt (宠坏的) and don't want to face the challenges of adult life. Many children born in the 1990s and 2000s were raised by "helicopter parents". They were always there to guide and help them with a busy schedule filled with homework and extracurricular activities such as dancing, drawing, or sports. With parents who do everything for them, today's youth seem to prefer to live like teenagers even when they are in their 20s or 30s.
Does the facedown generation need a headsup? Well, probably not. The fact is that many of today's teenagers are better educated and more creative than past generations. They also seem to be enthusiastic (热情的) and willing to become leaders. More young people than ever volunteer to help their communities. There are also brave young people such as Malala Yousafzai, the teenager who won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for pushing girls'rights to go to school.
So if you're one of the ohohs, there's reason to be hopeful about the future. Things are looking up for the facedown generation. Chances are that you will do GR8 (great) and LOL (laugh out loud).
