KEY POINTS:
Generation Y and the Baby Boomers may have more in common than they think.
Both groups have at some point been dubbed the "Me Generation" - a label one youth advocate says is unfair in both cases.
New Zealand Association for Adolescent Health and Development executive officer Sarah Helm defends today's youth saying the selfishness tag is unjust, unhelpful and wrong.
"Baby Boomers were also called the 'me generation', which was pretty unfair given their role in challenging the Vietnam War, and fighting for social justice," Ms Helm said.
"The current generation of young people is involved in many volunteer activities, and shows concern about social issues like climate change, not unlike the generations before them."
Young New Zealanders aged 12 to 24 do over 49 million hours of unpaid work a year outside of their home, she said.
And young Maori did "significantly more" volunteer work than other young people, she said.
The public were often told today's youth were violent, selfish, implosive and disinterested. Yet this was not the case for most young people, she said.
"We encourage adults to offer young people opportunities to participate and get involved in the community."
- NZPA
