The Curious Case of Gen Y

Generations come and go, but the trend of naming them has begun only recently. The common terms being thrown around these days are Generation Y and Generation X.

On social media, there is a constant debate of which age group is better, and each one’s characteristics have been dragged through the mud to come out as the winner. The main motive is to prove who is more capable than the other!

gustavofrazao/Depositphotos: Millennials having eccentric lifestyle choices

In this article, we turn our focus on Gen Y, lovingly known as Millennials; they have been criticized a lot. Some of the points may be valid, and some of them are just plain dubious. Let’s dissect, shall we?

Who Qualifies as a ‘Millennial?’

dimaberkut/Depositphotos: The generation born with the advanced tech

Born between 1985 and 2000, Gen Y has witnessed some monumental changes and has gone through a century turn.

They also had the privilege of being born in an era where the world changed for the better due to the introduction of the internet, the boom of technological advancements, the rise of social media and smartphones, and have witnessed severe global recession twice now.

People think that millennials refuse to leave behind their teenage years. They are also referred to as ‘Peter Pan’ generation because of their habit of living with their parents a lot longer than others.

Driven or Self-Absorbed?

There is a common misconception that Gen Y has an air of self-entitlement bordering on narcissism. Although this may be a skewed perception, research has shown that people from this era tend to be more goal-driven and independent.

The results also showed an evident disconnect with the politics, with only 50% of the youngsters taking a keen interest.

Complicated Relationship with Technology 

This is a generation that was born right at the cusp of the communication revolution. Advanced models of computers were beginning to be released around the 2000s, introduction to broadband, and the launch of social sites.

According to a survey, 85% of Gen Y owns a cellphone and check it more than 50 times a day. Also, 87% of people have an active social media account.

Consequentially, the increase in usage of gadgets has led to decreased human contact and other health side-effects.

Workplace Motivation

pokryvkaphoto.gmail.com/Depositphotos: It’s hard to motivate a millennial in a workplace

Many people have leveled the argument that the younger generation is lazy and unwilling to put in the work required to be successful. While there might be some truth in it, but studies have also shown that millennials feel disengaged and are not productive enough in their jobs.

Another angle to view this can be – they are unable to pursue things they enjoy doing. As a result, there is also a significant increase in entrepreneurs and the boom of small businesses. So, the opinion is subjective.

After knowing all the facts, it is up to you to decide how you perceive Gen Y. One thing is for sure, everyone has their traits and shortcomings, instead of picking them apart, it would make the world a better place to focus on the positives!