Why Are Millennials Today Worse Than Generations Past?

Decent Essays
Are millennials today worse than generations past? Or do millennials today contain more pressure to succeed than ever before? Living in today’s world as a millennial outweighs the troubles of a millennial living in the 1970s or older. Although countless advantages in technology will aid today’s millennials, it seems as if the world is against them, and their true perseverance shines through. The millennial generation, those born between the mid-1980s and the turn of the century, exceed the numerous obstacles thrown at them, including the issues from the Baby Boomers, the incredible amount of work ethic they uphold, and the constant competitive arena growing along with the advances in digital technology. People call millennials unflattering …show more content…
From a text edited by Haugen and Musser, “[t]his pressure has created a culture of overachievers… and have observed individuals across the spectrum experiencing equal levels of stress associated with the push to succeed” (Jayson). According to The Millennial Generation, seventy-five percent of millennials plan to graduate from college or are already a college or university graduate (The Millennial Generation). Jayson sets the facts saying that this society today tells everyone that simply a high school diploma is not enough to be an adequate middle class citizen in America (Jayson). Millennials strive to excel academically and socially in their extracurricular activities just to be eligible for a mediocre university or college. Complications with their obsession with perfection includes an increase in mental health problems, which correlates to the pressure they are put under. Statistics given by Jayson clarifies that “[a] study by psychologists at Kansas State University published three years ago found that the number of college-age students treated for depression doubled from 1989 to 2001.” The fact of the matter rests as, if you try harder than most and perform better than most, then you are more likely to suffer from mental health issues. The minute you start succeeding, others will begin a …show more content…
Most of their generalized flaws lead back to social media, and they start feeling the need to document every portion of their lives. In a text edited by Haugen and Musser, “…they’re connected to one another by a common culture. Major aspects of their lives—social interactions, friendships, civic activities—are mediated by digital technologies. And they’ve never known any other way of life” (Palfrey and Gasser). By posting their every thought on social media outlets, millennials express more narcissistic qualities than generations past. As an example, Palfrey and Gasser elaborate by saying that religion itself currently alternates compared to the past; with weblogs, preachers from most religions spread their message virtually (Palfrey and Gasser). Quoted by Professor Jean Twenge, “Young people have been consistently taught to put their own needs first and to focus on feeling good about themselves” (Chau). Although loving oneself is never a bad thing, this is a first where a generation selfishly puts themselves before everyone else. Chau continues by explaining how individuals today disconnect themselves and consume themselves in their personal issues, and it does not mesh properly for this culture altogether (Chau). Millennials still overcome odds and use their individualism to their own good and provide themselves with success. As Professor Twenge says, “‘[t]he advantages of

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