Fighting for a Just Future

The Iowa WTF student coalition presents their analysis of contemporary youth activism, arguing that social media has fundamentally transformed resistance movements by decentralizing organization and enabling youth to control their own narratives. Founded in March 2022, Iowa WTF organizes student walkouts and advocacy against discriminatory legislation targeting LGBTQIA+ rights, reproductive rights, and educational restrictions. The students trace their activism origins to local community organizing, particularly through Community of Racial Equity chapters, before connecting statewide.

"The easiest way to give up power is thinking we don't have it." - David Lee, Iowa WTF co-founder

"We are living in the middle of a paradigm shift in the world of activism and advocacy... this time it's different... technology that gives us power to define our own identities and the identities of the resistance grassroot movements we are building is literally in our hands."

"Public perception has the power to stigmatize, uproot and even destroy the identity of a movement in a heartbeat... the news world is slowly turning into a social media world where technology... is literally in our hands."

• Iowa WTF argues that social media allows youth movements to control their narratives rather than being defined by traditional media outlets. While this may reduce certain biases, does it also create risks of echo chambers, misinformation, or reduced accountability? How might movements balance narrative control with broader public engagement and fact-checking?
• The presentation emphasizes youth agency while also describing productive relationships with supportive adults. How should adult educators, policymakers, and community members engage with youth-led movements without co-opting or undermining youth leadership? When might adult intervention or guidance be appropriate versus problematic?