Weeks into the Ukrainian invasion, and there is no end in sight. Russia has continued to push into the country, forcing Ukrainian civilians to take up arms while others evacuate.
As war rages on in Ukraine, outsiders watch from a new frontier: social media. One group in particular, Gen Z, has been front and center as the newest generation to be indoctrinated into the realm of modern war.
As the new generation watches the Ukrainian invasion play out on Tik Tok and Twitter, they are faced with new challenges about how to confront war. For many, finding a way to cope is a near necessity with the other burdens they face in day-to-day life. For others, they have dedicated their time to advocating for Ukraine, spreading information and even taking up arms.
Turning Toward Advocacy
Many members of Gen Z have turned to social media to advocate for Ukraine.
The Washington Post reported that “Ukrainians and their supporters have used social media to bruise, belittle and humiliate the Russians, seeking to boost citizens’ spirits and sap invaders’ morale during the most Internet-accessible war in history. A flood of real-time videos across Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and Twitter has blunted Kremlin propaganda and rallied the world to Ukraine’s side as it fights to defend its democracy from a military behemoth.”
The report continued, saying, “It has also potentially saved lives: Ukrainians have raced to disseminate defensive strategies, plot escape routes and document the brutality of a raging clash. Some expect that the phone footage recorded in recent days could play a critical role in investigating war crimes after the combat ends.”
Unfortunately, social media is a double-edged sword. While Ukrainians have pushed for social media use because of how quickly information can be spread, misinformation is running rampant.
Fighting With Faith
One of the things that Gen Z is known for is being the least religious generation to date. However, that hasn’t stopped them from turning toward faith in times of war.
Hannah Sanderford, freshman international business major at John Brown University, has spent a majority of her life in Ukraine and is heavily relying on her beliefs to get her through this trying time. “First and foremost, it is home. My parents moved our family to Kyiv, Ukraine, as missionaries, in November of 2005. Sixteen years later, filled with memories of Ukrainian school, Russian ballet, public transportation and freezing winters in a city of over three million, I moved to Siloam Springs.”
“As for my parents, they are safe,” said Sanderford, whose family was pulled from Ukraine in late January. They have been living in Budapest, Hungary, ever since.
The situation has proven mentally taxing for Sanderford. “I feel weighed down, tired, torn apart and frayed,” she said. “Imagine your home, state, country and place you grew up — closed. You can’t visit. Others can’t leave. War in the streets. Planes in the air. Sirens in the city. Your friends write you from underground bomb shelters.”
She continued, saying, “In addition, add homework and other responsibilities. Although your family is, albeit safe and out of the country, you realize they are on the other side of the world and unable to be with you. If you can imagine that, you can see how I feel about the situation in Ukraine; it feels like walking and breathing underwater, being unable to catch a breath.”
Prayer and her faith are not only the things that Sanderford is leaning on but what she believes Ukraine needs most right now — and one of the best ways people her age can help. “Pray and raise awareness. Pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia, the families hurt and torn apart by war, world leaders as they seek to make decisions and the soldiers on both sides. Raise awareness with friends and family about the situation, and keep up to date with the news. Ukraine needs more than financial and political support. It needs God. It needs prayer. It needs the Church to intercede to God on its behalf to bring peace.”
One of Sanderford’s friends sent word from a Ukrainian soldier about the power of the prayer support they are receiving. “We feel your prayer support. Sometimes something really inexplicable happens, as if someone’s invisible hand really takes bullets and shells away from us, and they fly past us. We emerge victorious from very difficult situations as if someone is accompanying us. We become invisible to the enemy, we ourselves see even in complete darkness, and we know what to do and how to do it. It inspires us and gives us strength. We believe that the Lord Jesus Himself is for Ukraine. We ask you not to stop, support us and continue to pray. We really need you.”
Doing What We Can
Regardless of the mechanism, people of all generations are looking to help. For many, it’s just about doing whatever they can, whether that’s helping with the war or simply making it through the day.
Photo courtesy of Cash Macanaya at Unsplash