Our generation is fortunate enough to be able to choose our path for our futures in a very interesting time. There are so many opportunities that didn't exist a few years ago that are now crucial in many fields. Technology and social media has opened up new options and has allowed this generation to be the pioneers. Even writing for Odyssey, which isn't a career, but still an amazing experience, is not something anyone could've participated in if it wasn't for the Internet and social media.
However, with these new platforms, I have found a rapidly increasing issue: nobody is creating original content.
We have gotten to the point where once someone does something original and receives success for it, everyone copies that idea and claims it as their own. This can be seen across various platforms and it is evident how common it is. Let's take YouTube for example. Many young people have turned running a YouTube channel into a career. Which I think is awesome and a great way for aspiring filmmakers or others interested in that field to use as a platform in order to promote their work and make connections. However, the most "popular" YouTubers that get the most opportunities and recognition for their work are the ones who copy a viral video and put their own "twist" on it. (I dare you to search any type of "tag" video on YouTube, and I can guarantee that millions of videos will come up.)
Why is there such a lack of creativity? What is so exciting about getting recognition for something that you didn't really create? I personally cannot see the appeal to this.
Another example to think about are articles that are published on websites like Odyssey, HerCampus, etc. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love writing for Odyssey and being able to pursue my passion for writing and share it with others; however, a trend I've noticed is that much like YouTube, people will write the same article with a slightly different spin. If I had a dollar for every "Open Letter" (which I'll guiltily admit to writing one of) to the same person, whether it be best friend or roommate, with a different cover photo, I would probably be able to afford college without begging FAFSA for financial aid. The same can be said for listicles entitled "10 Reasons I Love My Big/Little."
As someone who has loved to write her whole life, I genuinely don't get why people wouldn't want to be writing something original. We live in a world where things are constantly changing, which means there is ample material to write about. Whether it is about the news, your passions, your hobbies or even just how you are feeling at the time, there is so much more to write about than why the struggle is real with slightly different GIFs than the last 50 articles used.
Our generation wants to be taken more seriously and it is now our time to prove why. Let's do something new, different and original to gain the respect we are demanding.
