Moral development of youth could be compromised by the experience of living through a lockdown. A major part of adolescent development is the acquisition of values and characteristics that form the foundation of being a good citizen. Lockdowns violate every moral principle of Western society including non-harm towards others, respecting the freedom of others, democracy, and fulfillment of the personality. Most fundamentally, the modern view of good citizenship involves viewing others as individuals with their own needs and rights, rather than as commodities to be used for one’s own gain.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, youth have been treated like a batch of tainted meat. They have been deemed useless and discarded. No consideration has been given for their wellbeing. Government has not acknowledged the personhood of youth in this pandemic. It has treated them as mere objects of disease transmission with the full support of the adult community. This treatment is not only unethical and in violation of human rights law, it also teaches our young people to devalue their fellow humans and see them as nothing more than objects to be manipulated for personal gain.
Governments no longer regard people as human beings. Elected politicians treat people as nothing more than disease-carrying objects.
The period of adolescence (age 10 to 24), is a critical time in which people develop their attitudes towards the world. This is largely done by observation. A male living in a region in which aggression is expected of males, for instance, observes aggressive men are more respected and have better lives, and learns to become aggressive himself so that he can succeed in life. A female who grew up in a traditional environment in which women don’t work outside the home, is likely to see her role in the world as one centered on a domestic life.
The coronavirus pandemic has exposed the true colors of people. We don’t care about each other at all. We only see the value of others in terms of their instrumental value to us. We value health care workers and grocery store clerks because they provide us with essential services and products. Everyone else we are all too happy to throw away. The best others can do with their lives, people now say, is to self-isolate to decrease coronavirus transmission. That is no different from saying that it would be better if everyone who is not an essential worker died so that they can’t give you coronavirus. It is a complete rejection of the right to live.
What will the lockdown generation be like when they are middle-aged and in positions of power? They learned when they were young that the happiness of others is irrelevant. The youth who understand that lockdowns are bad for public health may also be conditioned to believe that the health of others doesn’t matter. When this generation becomes managers, teachers, and politicians, they may not treat the people under them with the dignity that they deserve.
The lockdown can also have an impact on how youth feel about themselves. In the same way that it has taught them that others don’t matter, it has also taught them that the only value they have in life is to avoid spreading disease. This can cause low feelings of self-worth which inhibit success in the future.
What will the lockdown generation be like when they are middle-aged and in positions of power?
Growing up with social distancing prevents the formation of personal identity. A sense of identity is typically developed in the late teens to mid-twenties. The process of identify formation occurs through interaction with others and engagement in activities that one enjoys. It is through interaction with others that we see how we are alike and how we are different. This doesn’t happen with social distancing. Nor can a youth play sports, take classes, go camping, attend church retreats, travel, or do just about anything in which one discovers oneself. Lacking a strong sense of identity, the lockdown generation will be at risk for substance abuse and exploitation of various kinds.
The recent collapse in long-held societal values may become permanently instilled in our young people. It could result in a future society that is as cruel and heartless as adults have been since the pandemic started. Without the opportunity to interact with others and experiment in the many activities of the world, this generation will grow up without a sense of identity and be easy prey for radical groups.