Societal Issue: With the increasing accessibility of the internet and smartphones, our global population has become an ever-connected society in ways that were once unimaginable. These technologies enable us to maintain close bonds across geographical distances, but the social media driven culture can also encourage a destructive need for constant affirmation and instant gratification.

Solution: Participating in group-based organizations and service activities provides youth the opportunities to step outside of themselves, recognize the commonality among all people, and realize how important relationships with others are to the health of ourselves and our communities.

4-H’s Role: 4-H provides many opportunities for youth to engage with others -- whether that be at robotics competitions, the county fair, or 4-H Congress – and at these events, 4-Hers engage with people from different backgrounds with varied life experiences. This exposure to people different from themselves helps 4-Hers develop a mindset of understanding and putting others first to build a better club, community, country and world.

Societal Issue: While technology has enabled people in previously unconnected communities to engage with others and learn new skills, these gadgets can also encourage people to remain stagnant while playing games and reading on their tablets.  

Solution: To continue addressing society-wide issues, young people need to put themselves in situations where they are solving problems and learning new skills by experiencing them first-hand in a safe and encouraging environment of trial, error, and trial again.

4-H’s Role: Since the early 1900s, 4-H has been built on a foundation of “learn by doing,” which invites young people to experience new things with minimal guidance from adults. Instead of being told the answers, they are presented with questions and problems which they must make sense of for themselves by getting their hands dirty and diving in. It is called experiential learning.