Prominent writer and curator Louis Anslow recently issued a succinct yet potent call to action on social media, tweeting, > "Kids, do it. It’s time to build." The message, amplified across platforms, resonates with a broader philosophical movement advocating for renewed societal construction and entrepreneurial drive, particularly aimed at younger generations. Anslow's tweet underscores a growing sentiment among innovators and thought leaders for proactive creation over complacency.
The phrase "It's Time to Build" gained significant traction following an influential 2020 essay by venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Andreessen's piece lamented a widespread inability to construct essential infrastructure, innovate in critical sectors like healthcare and housing, and overcome institutional inertia. His argument posited that a lack of ambition and a preference for preventing new developments over enabling them had stifled progress across Western societies.
In the United Kingdom, this philosophy has been passionately championed by figures such as Matt Clifford, co-founder of Entrepreneur First and chair of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). Clifford's recent "Make the UK Rich Again" speech, which Anslow shared, highlighted nearly two decades of economic stagnation and urged a national mission to foster growth and celebrate entrepreneurial success. He emphasized the need to "back the builders, back the founders, back the scientists" to push reality forward.
Anslow, known for his "Pessimists Archive" project which chronicles historical technophobia and moral panics, aligns with this pro-innovation stance. By directing his "It's time to build" message to "Kids," Anslow appears to be specifically targeting and empowering younger generations to embrace this ethos of creation and problem-solving. The tweet serves as a direct challenge for youth to actively contribute to shaping a more dynamic and prosperous future.
