As a millennial, I often receive a lot of “hate” from the older generations, especially when it comes to technology. For myself, I’m at the tail end of my generation; I had a cell phone in middle school, I didn’t suffer too long from dial-up internet, I had an iPod, etc. To someone in an older generation though, I’m too connected and rely too heavily on technology and I am no different than the younger generations who grew up on tablets and wifi.
It may just be the condescending tone at which the older generations speak with towards my generation, but when they make such statements I do feel a bit offended. Perhaps I am too connected online, while writing this I’ve checked Twitter at least three times and we’re only in the second paragraph. Perhaps I do rely on technology as my phone serves as my alarm clock, planner, GPS, source of entertainment, etc. But with conviction I would like to state that millennials are in no way similar to the “founders” as I believe they’re calling them and the younger generations, and I would like to ask older generations to recognize this.
Sure I just mentioned that I’m constantly connected and addicted to my phone, but that does not even put me in the same realm as those even a mere five years younger than myself. Millennials grew up in a world that was constantly evolving around us, an ever-changing atmosphere and culture. From this we learned our best and most feared skill: adaptability. We were growing, developing and changing alongside of the world. The same kids that bought Nickelodeon Slime are the same young adults that are buying iPhones. We’re just as addicted to our iPhones as we were to our toys back then and this is what sets us apart from the younger generations.
There are large chunks of our lives that are left unaffected by technology, well the mass technology of today. We grew up watching Disney movie tapes on VCRs and playing on slip-n-slides until they tore. When we were young technology was introduced to us a luxury which over time became a necessity. A cell phone, as disposable as we may make it seem, is our expensive necessity. For the younger generations a cell phone, a tablet, a laptop are all just toys. And boy, that’s one expensive toy.
Millennials were not handed technology, we were slowly introduced and it was integrated into our everyday lives piece by piece. Brick-like cell phones were treasures, flip phones were masterpieces, a desktop computer was the ultimate luxury! We moved from dial-up to modem to now wifi, from brick phone to flip phone to touch screen, from desktop to laptop to tablet. We were introduced to the device, taught how to use the devices, and then we grew with the devices.
There was no, “Here is a phone, go kill time.” There was only, “Here in computer class we learn how to type quickly, fix bugs, troubleshoot and occasionally you may play pinball.” There was no, “Here is a tablet with 50 apps, go play in your room.” There was only, “Here is the Nickelodeon Slime you begged for, take it outside and share. Come in before the streetlights.” Devices weren’t and aren’t toys, we know toys. Devices weren’t ways to pass the time, weren’t distractions, didn’t keep us from playing or socializing.
If you’re out in a restaurant and you see young children who are offered crayons and a coloring sheet, they’re ignoring the opportunity to play MineCraft on their tablet or Angry Birds on their mom’s phone. That’s not what tablets are for, or phones. Sure they may not also be exactly for social media but tell me the last time a six year old used a cell phone planner, alarm clock or used it to make a phone call?
Millennials have a bad rep, especially when it comes to technology. We get it, you don’t like us. But please, pretty please, don't lump us with the younger generations who don’t know how to play and live off a device that they can navigate but don’t understand. We had childhoods and technology grew alongside of us and we’re not mad about it. But we do get mad when we see little kids on phones, on tablets, on laptops, just like you because we know what they’re missing out on.
