We are more unique than any previous generation and arguably any future generations. We millennials are bearing the brunt of the biggest societal change in human history. Although most don’t see it yet, looking back on this period will show a colossal shift that dwarfs that of the agricultural and industrial revolutions, fundamentally changing human society.
Once we see this massive shift for what it is, trends and events that once frustrated us start to make sense. As a result of understanding our world, we can better navigate it, and ultimately enjoy the time we have here more.
How the internet changes everything…
Who Are We?
As commonly defined, we are the children of Baby Boomers – born between 1981 and 1996. But, as we will see, you can be Millennial in mind or heart at any age.
Amongst all the other stereotypes about millennials, one fact is true: We are the first generation to grow up with the internet… and this changes everything.
Who are these millennials?
Viewed through the lens of past generations, we do some funky stuff:
- Make money off selfies
- Meet our life partners on dating apps
- Consider playing video games a sport
- Delay starting a family
- Celebrate gangster rap
- And so much more…
And we’ve been assigned some stereotypes:
- Entitled – wait, so, you can’t just set things on cruise control after college?
- Praise-hungry – since everyone got a trophy in our little leagues!
- Job-hoppers – corporations don’t reward loyalty any more now than they did before.
- Idealistic – because wanting to be socially and environmentally responsible is important to us (why was making money the only focus before?)
- Addicted to phones – this one is probably true for many of us…
BUT we should not accept judgements from a generation that doesn’t understand that the pre-internet past is not a model for the future.
Why are we more different than any previous generations?
The internet has changed the game more than most older generations can fathom. I don’t blame them. For thousands of years power dynamics and methods for information exchange have been the same.
The ruling class ruled, the working class worked, the serf class slaved.
Information came from central sources: the church, the king, the governor, the newspaper, the radio, TV news.
Now what?
The rug is being pulled out from underneath the framework of society. Access to the internet enables social mobility and unfettered access to information.
Of course, there are the exceptions. Any baby boomer will gladly tell you “people in China don’t have free access to information”. While there is some truth to this, exceptions do not prove the rule. Trajectory of access to information via the internet is undeniable.
In 2012 about 2 Billion people had internet access. By 2016 it was 3 Billion. Most estimates now place us at 5 Billion or more.
The Internet Changes Everything…
Access to Information
Throughout the entire 1900’s access to information didn’t change much. Gatekeepers decided what information to share and how to share it. Even with the radio and TV, there was virtually no mass peer-to-peer information exchange or unlimited access to information resources. All information came from the top down.
In the 2000’s the internet change everything.
Here’s a quick recap on the evolution of the access to information:
- Scholars & Scribes – Pre 1440 the exchange of information was controlled by scholars who had access and the education to decipher text. The only way for anyone to get information was through word of mouth or by getting a book that was hand copied by a scribe.
- Printing Press – Post 1440 books were copied and distributed at an exponentially higher scale. More people had access to it, but the traditional gatekeepers still remained.
- Radio – Proliferated in the early to mid 1900s.
- Television – Proliferated in the late 1900s.
- Internet – Y2K
Politics & Power
Access to information and the means of peer-to-peer communication change the dynamics of power more than we realize and faster than we think. That’s why a few events in 2016 shocked the world.
If information was limited to the filters of print, radio, and TV…
- Fringe ideas like Q Anon would have less channels to spread and gain traction
- It would be more difficult for foreign governments to reach US citizens with propaganda
- Politicians would be less incentivized to get into the spotlight and more incentivized to solve real problems
- Voters would have less information, but likely less-polarized information
Yes, it is very plausible that the explosion of information access and peer-to-peer communication has a negative impact on our society and our well being.
However, I am optimistic about the long term benefits and see our current era of confusion as growing pains. We’re misapplying the power of the internet because we don’t understand it yet. It’s like we are dealing with alien technology. We don’t know how to use it yet. So far we’ve applied it for:
- Infant Internet – sharing of info between universities
- Toddler Internet – sharing of cat and dog videos, chat rooms
- Teenage Internet – porn and chat room trolling
- College Internet – rush to monetize anything and everything by everyone
- Grad School Internet – TBD
- Professional Internet – TBD
Daily Life
Having access to the rest of the world in the palms of our hands changes what we do from sun up to sun down. We’ve replaced a multitude of gadgets with one: the cell phone + internet. Along with that we’ve changed long-standing habits.
Tremendous changes have come to how we navigate, communicate, and spread ideas.
| Really Old | Old | Now |
| Paper Map & Compass | Landlines + Pen & Paper | Cell Phones |
| Currier | USPS | Cell Phones |
| The Bible | Almanacs & Encyclopedias | The Internet |
Last Thoughts
- The societal transition we’re experiencing is disjointed. It’s happening faster in some areas than others. I expect to see the seeds of change start in small pockets, with pockets of hold-outs (think of the Omish community in today’s US society).
- We should recognize this societal change for what it is and adjust the way we live our lives accordingly. Don’t live life in the new world by following the blueprint of the old world. While many principles will transition, many of the old rules do not apply.