Change is something that a lot of people can't seem to grasp. Older generations are especially critical of Generation Y, or millennials, and believe that we're on the brink of social destruction the more we immerse ourselves in new technology and implement a more liberal way of thinking. It’s unfortunate that millennials have been characterized as entitled, dependent, and greedy. I couldn't care less about the negative things people think of me and my generation -- which is ironic since we're also criticized for never giving a crap about anything. It does piss me off though, when I hear us being labeled as narcissistic and self-absorbed because of how we act and what we post on social media.
I post pictures of myself when I'm doing something I love to do. I post pictures of me and my friends when we go out at night. And I post pictures when know I look damn good (hair flip). When someone likes my picture it is satisfying, it is validating, it’s not narcissistic. It's as satisfying and validating as a high-five or a nice pat on the back -- not in the sense that it determines my confidence or worth as a person. You control social media; it does not control you.
Generation Y grew up with gold stars stuck to our foreheads for being the best. We all got were awarded the same medals whether we won or lost. We were punished if we were mean to a classmate for being different than us; we hugged them and apologized. Our actions were constantly supported by the adults around us. We got older and pressured ourselves to get high test scores and win at sports. Millennials have the ability to compete with others while still being compassionate for the people who we succeed over. We want to validate a persons place in society, especially when they are different.
Our parents raised us this way because they were raised the opposite. Parenting styles have shifted drastically over time, and as a result our generation is more open-minded. The human mind is engineered for compassion and competition; unfortunately, one characteristic often overpowers the other. Technological and sociological advancements have turned us toward an extremely competitive nature, which is proven to result in an unhappy society. Studies show that villages in developing countries contain the happiest people on earth because they are completely dependent on one another. Millennials have been taught to a balance of competition and compassion, and being that we are the future of America, I know we will change the our society for the better.
Stop making generalizations, take selfies, and open your mind!
