A major asset to our generation and era is technology. Since we were young, everything we needed to research and make decisions was at our fingertips. Even today, we do not need to attend rallies or speeches to decide what candidate to vote for or support, we can search their name in a search bar and find all of the information of people’s lives and experiences in a matter of seconds. Instead of having to attend a city hall meeting, news about a dangerous threat can be spread through social media or the news. People no longer have to put their faith in boys who cry wolf, and rather put security cameras in place to see the true story behind why cattle mysteriously disappeared.

In the late 1700s, the United States government created the Electoral College in fear of their easily influenced citizens. It was not possible in those days to get to know what each candidate was about like it is today, and a small and simple rumor can spread like a wildfire and sway people to the, potentially, wrong side. But today is no longer like those days, despite our government keeping the ancient system intact today. We have modernized and are taking the steps to advance our minds and ethics as a society today. 

One of the most unexpected frontrunners in the distribution of information and important issues is Netflix. From the documentaries of Aaron Hernandez to Gabriel Fernandez to Korey Wise, Netflix has caused an enormous stir these days. Every time a documentary of a certain case or person is released, it almost guarantees anger and frustration from their audience. These cases are so controversial or unjust to the point where protests are immediately following the debuts of these documentaries. One of the most notable instances is one where one of the lead prosecutors against Korey Wise resigned shortly after the release of “When They See Us,” a documentary about him and four other young black teenagers who were accused of a rape and assault case that they did not commit. 

Netflix’s documentaries and series are revolutions in the spread of information. While these options are a little time-consuming, they are incredibly hooking and hard to separate oneself from. Although they have been touching darker cases, including a series called “I Am A Killer” about people who are locked up for murder, what they did to their victims and a killer’s experiences first-handed, they also have more documentaries on the lighter side such as “Cheer,” a documentary dedicated to an elite cheerleading team at Navarro College. It raised awareness of competitive cheerleading and how athletic these students actually are despite cheerleading stereotypes that have carried from generation to generation.

Our generation is one of the most respectful and knowledgeable than those of the past. We are able to see what others were not before. Not only are we given these options, but we are also given entertaining ways to acquire knowledge that is imperative to how we decide to act everyday. We are given the baton to take what we have seen and know and apply it to every day. These outlets are to our advantage. While we see the mistakes of the past and the harsh reality of today, we are able to make a change and speak out against it.