“Eight-year-olds these days have Facebook, Twitter, phones and iPads. When I was their age I had a coloring book, crayons and imagination.”
Everyone has heard, seen or said a statement like this. Let’s break down this statement and many similar to it. There is not a single eight-year-old who has the capability to buy a phone or tablet. A child cannot on their own create Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other social media account if they have limited or no internet access. Parents are buying these technologies for their children at younger and younger ages and then proceed to complain that children are always on a device and gloat about how much better their childhood was because they grew up in an age without technology. Millennials have been handed shiny, interactive toys since a young age and then are put down for using the same devices that were handed to them.
Technology provides instant gratification and this undoubtedly feels great. Millennials grew up enjoying the fact that we have the world at our finger tips. We are realizing that we have a voice and can be the generation to change things. Like any other generation, we have our problems and it's time to take responsibility for our negative behaviors and be the generation to change social norms for the better. Everyone has the right to complain about whatever they want and that's fine, but the next time someone from an older generation calls out a millennial and makes harsh assumptions about our life styles, which is heavily influences by technology, remember that these behaviors and resources have been learned and integrated into our daily life.The other day, I started thinking about why older generations have such strong negative feelings towards millennials in general. I came to a conclusion, they don't like that we are achieving (and actively continuing to try and achieve) what they have failed to. Every generation attempts to achieve global goals such as ending racism, reaching gender and social equality for all, solving hunger, the list goes on and on. Millennials are the ones tackling these issues head on. We are shaking the world like never before. We have created movements that challenge other generations and ourselves. We are challenging beliefs on topics such as racism, homophobia and sexism.
Although some of our methods of achieving social change might not be the most "well-mannered," we really are trying. We've seen conventional methods fail or take too long of a time. We want instant gratification; we want all people to be respected equally within our lifetimes. So yes, we are demanding a lot; we are demanding that people be treated with equal respect. By the age of five, we all knew the golden rule, "Treat others how you want to be treated." At what age did we forget this once golden rule?
There's an old saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." We're a bunch of puppies in this world that don't like what we see. We're told "to be the change we want to see in the world," but when we try to change the world, we get criticized. Something isn't adding up. There is a social disconnect between generations that is detrimental to all parties involved. Millennials are pushing so much social change because we believe older generations can handle and embrace it. After all, each of these movements have been inspired by you. We are trying to finish a puzzle that is still missing a few pieces.
No, we are not perfect in any sense. We have issues like any other generation, but we are held to a higher standard than any other generation before. Our generation blasts our lives on social media for all to criticize. Before the Internet, if a high school kid did something stupid, then the only proof of the incident lied within those who witnessed it. Those beers you chugged senior year at that awesome house party? No one (including your employer) knows about it, lucky you. Now if someone does the same thing today, then we live in fear that a photo or video will surface on the Internet; a place where everything is forever. So yes, some of our behavior isn't always contributing to society in a positive way (and yes, we do contribute to society in many positive ways), but please stop pretending like we're the first generation to be slightly reckless. We're just the first generation to be on camera all the time.
So if you're a part of an older generation, then understand that just as you see millennials as entitled and disrespectful, we see you as a part of a generation that has created a world in which we find unacceptable. Stop telling us that we are "living in a fantasy world" or "that's not how the world works" just because we want to foster love and unity opposed to hate and division. As a generation we want a world that doesn't need movements such as feminism where the whole point is equality for all. We just want it to be understood that no matter what race, gender, sexuality, etc., we all are humans and deserve to be treated as such. We want to be the generation that ends these social issues. Often times we look back on history, some people are on the right side of history, while others are on the wrong side. It's a shame that so many before us could not see that they were on the wrong side of history. What side of history do you want to be a part of? Make the choice to be on the right side -- the side that will make future generations proud long after we are gone.
To older generations: We see how history has changed over time. We see that each generation has made some progress, but now is the time that we can put all of your hard work into one big progressive movement. We can't change the world alone. Help us.
To millennials: The world is watching us. Let's make our time on this wonderful planet count. We have the opportunity to change the world like no generation before us. Let's not mess it up.
Older generations, millennials and generations to follow us, it's time to come together. Let's unite regardless of age and be human. Let's love stronger than any other group of humans alive. Let's change the world so generations after us don't have to. Let's create a utopia.
