Teen Explains Why Peers Are Going Vegan

Teen writer “Claire” for online social justice publication Affinity Magazine penned an op-ed to reveal the reasons behind an increasing amount of teenagers opting for a vegan lifestyle. Claire points to an increased awareness about the environmental harm animal agriculture imposes on the planet as a primary concern for teens who are eschewing animal products. “Climate change is a frightening issue,” Claire writes, “especially for teenagers like me because we are the generation that will watch our world face devastation if nobody takes action.” The 17-year-old imagines her future in 2050 and urges fellow teens take action by going vegan. “When I tell adults about this, I’m shocked at how many are clueless about this going on,” Claire writes. “Or perhaps they are aware about what’s going on but merely don’t care since most of them won’t be alive by 2050.” Veganism is on the rise among the younger generation, with teens crediting social media platforms—particularly Instagram—for inspiring them to live cruelty-free.