There is something very special about our young people.

Living on an island where close knit communities remain the norm, more commonly asserted as everyone knows each other, they share a bond that makes them proudly Tasmanian and fiercely loyal.

They are strong-minded and resolute and clear about democracy and injustice. Gone are the days where compliance is the most admirable quality. Questioning, expressing views, and thinking differently about challenges and issues are admired and highly sought after by employers.

For adults who attempt to provide guidance in a manner reminiscent of our parents, there is often a feeling of upheaval compared to the way past generations behaved. It is challenging and frustrating and then infuriating as we struggle to understand the complexities of young people who are determined to forge their own path and passionate about making a difference.

Once upon a time being sent to your room was not an agenda item for discussion - it was an order more commonly found in military circles. And questioning "why?" resulted in a stern rebuke along the lines of "because I told you so!".

But now, the rhetorical question "who is the parent here?" often results in grown-ups questioning their direction or intention, rather than the desired outcome of said child following said instruction.

Of course, not all things from the past should be cast aside like leg warmers and mixed tapes, with good manners and respect still treasured commodities in any home, school, or workplace.

There also remain a few non-negotiables that operate to deliver household calm, which can be a rarely achieved state of mind.

Further, Tasmanian youngsters can learn from the toil and hard work of their forebears who more commonly possessed in their toolkits what is now referred to as "stickability" - the ability to commit and persist at a task even when the going gets tough.

Young people have never had so much choice. From any number of sports, recreation activities, and artistic pursuits, to increased time on electronic devices and engagement at a peer and community level on social media.

Participation, encouragement, engagement, and motivation remain paramount should you wish to convince a young person to stick at a pursuit.

As a youngster, we were not presented with the options that fall to young people today. In our community, it was cricket and football of at least two varieties, basketball, and tennis with most children and adolescents choosing team sports. Cost was a pre-determinant of the choices you could make.

Fast forward to 2021 and our best and brightest will choose another sport or hobby should the environment or culture not, in their eyes or those of their parents, be just and right. It is a warning to clubs and organisations who wish to grow participation and ensure ongoing success through retention.

Hankering back to the "good old days" or permitting young sporting teams to pummel others clearly below their standard does nothing more than discourage a love of the game or activity. Rarely does it build a sense of hardening-up or result in character building that many believe to be the upshot. That is not to say winning, dedication, focus, and hard work are not valued nor learning to lose a life skill. However, with choice as common as the diminishing size of backyards, families will leave in search of more supportive and fair cultures or stop playing altogether.

Modern families can at times underestimate children. Daily, their success as leaders, which is underpinned by kindness and community involvement, fill our media outlets and social media feeds with positive examples of their impact.

Last week, young people's lives changed either permanently or temporarily with the opportunity to scrutinise breaking news stymied by the very platform that has rightly or wrongly made them more worldly than previous generations.

With Facebook's decision to ban posts from newspapers and unions to emergency services and support networks, the consequence of the audit may negatively impact our young people.

Unfortunately, while circulation for newspapers like this one remains strong in hardcopy, it is predominantly read by those of us with a few years under our belt.

Youngsters in search of instant gratification through harvesting and promoting social status via likes want their news just as instantly.

"The Book" - although perhaps no longer the go to platform for the under 25's - provided easily accessible instant news and information the masses. That will obviously lessen with the decision to cut various sites that help people of all ages. The unintentional consequence is dangerous with the removal impacting everyday folks keen to stay in touch and up to date with links that have become essential summertime double-clicking, like emergency and weather services.

The next generation is always better than the last. More aware, more capable, more informed, and more determined to make a difference. If you have time, spend it with them. Like developing wisdom to provide guidance, they can also teach us. I do my utmost to see good and in our young people I see that in abundance.