Millennials are viewed by some as the generation that is lazy, addicted to vape pens and obsessed with social media, but there’s more to them than meets the eye. Some people may not notice that they’re working hard to fight for their rights and using the power of the internet to make their voices heard.
Those born between 1981 and 1996 are considered millennials or Generation Y. They’re known as the social generation because of their connection to the internet. This is the result of some of the biggest shifts in technology happening during their lifetime. Social media was created and became popular only a few years after millennials were born.
When Apple started to release products, people had to figure out how to adapt to smartphones. Since millennials spent so much time with technology, it became comfortable and the norm for most of them relatively fast.
The development of social media has allowed the world to connect with people anywhere at any time. This gives them the chance to experience the world without actually traveling. This global awareness contributes to this generation’s perceived open-mindedness compared to prior generations.
Millennials are getting involved and using their resources to exercise their voices. Same-sex marriage and the LGBTQ community have become more accepted by millennials than any other generation so far.
The Pew Research Center’s “The Generation Gap in American Politics” said, “Millennials have been (and remain) most supportive of same-sex marriage, followed by Gen Xers, Boomers and Silents.”
“Millennials see that (there’s more acceptance) and they feel like they can voice their opinions because it won’t be shut down … it will be given a chance,” said Hannah Paulus, ’19.
Those who are supportive use their voices to fight for their rights. In 2015, same-sex marriage became legal in the U.S. According to a 2015 Pew Research Center survey, “73 percent of Millennials say gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry legally, while just 24 percent say they should not.”
The same commitment has carried over to politics which is driving millennials to get more involved in the elections. Since voting is another way to get their voices heard, the number of young participants has increased in recent years. When it comes to voting, many millennials believe that it will affect their future. “There’s so many celebrities and other important people encouraging us to vote… but it’s also (millennials) own willingness to go vote,” said Paulus.
Influencers can be parents and other authoritative figures, but they can also be celebrities. One of the most popular platforms among millennials is currently YouTube. Creativity has become a big part of this generation. This is where influencers come in YouTube has been a growing community since 2005 and is now a career for many millennials.
Looking at the top trending videos on YouTube at any time will most likely tell what millennials are talking about. They’re more likely to trust the opinion of someone making YouTube videos than someone of higher power. A 2014 Defy Media study found that “about 63 percent of millennials (respondents 13-24) said they would try a product or brand recommended by a YouTube personality, versus only 48 percent who said the same about a TV or movie star.”
People tend to trust and look up to them because they’re often more relatable than traditional. YouTube is another platform where many millennials may feel their voices will be heard if they can stand out in the huge community of others trying to do the same.
Social media is not only a way to connect with people, but it also gives insight into what’s happening in the world. The pictures and videos being shared are exposing people to global issues, sometimes encouraging them to get involved. Being able to see the effects of environmental problems such as global warming and pollution has made some adults, especially college students, more aware of what is happening to the earth.
One organization at NCC that encourages students to address social problems is Students for Social Innovation. Since the zero-waste movement is such a big trend among millennials, this organization handed out reusable straws to students as an incentive to cut down on plastic use. Reusable straws are a topic of interest because online, people are seeing the damage happening to the earth. This seems to be motivating millennials to want to change their ways to make a difference.
Reusable straws are just one change individuals and companies are starting to make. “People can have an impact just by changing their individual lifestyles and making people cognizant of their impact is also very potent,” said Reese Richardson, ’19, president of SSI.
The more progress millennials see because of their persistence, the louder they may want to make their voices. They will most likely continue with the pattern of speaking out and serve as models to those younger than them.
Chief research officer at CANARIE Inc., Bill St. Arnaud, was asked by Pew Research Center about his thoughts on the future of the human lifestyle. He said, “Gen Y will maintain this spirit of openness and sharing of personal information. Their enthusiasm may wane more from work and family pressures rather than concerns about privacy.”
