If you’ve ever heard the word Millennial you’ve probably heard it in association to the word selfish. Millennials are wildly known and criticized for self love. Many would say it’s narcissism. There’s always someone saying this is the way it’s always been so suck it up, I used to walk five miles to school, etc.
It’s a cop out. Every generation has made a big deal about the generation after it. The 90s were the first kids to fall in love with boy groups and girl groups, a set of childish kids who flip flopped between worshiping Nirvana and the Backstreet Boys, a sharp turn from the rock and rap heavy 80s, the 80s were glam rock, a move from the ‘real artistry’ of the 70s, the 70s in itself was the generation of revolution.
So what makes Millenials different?
The internet. Social media, the access on a global scale changed how we spoke to each other and how we connected. Forums and chat rooms were the first exercise of mass scale secrecy — you could be completely anonymous and almost untraceable in all the ways it mattered. This was the first time people could speak their truth with real conversation and never have to own up to it.
Not everything is a dirty secret, of course. But what it does mean is people were starting friendships, genuine connections on ideas that you’d never present in the open. No matter how ridiculous, there is bound to be someone that agrees with you.
This is the first time an established magazine can even consider blaming a full generation’s poverty on avocado toast.
People feel power in saying what they want to say because even if everyone around you can think you’re being ridiculous someone somewhere agrees.
Talking shit doesn’t mean you’re wrong
Self-love is a term people use all the time. It’s spawned whole movements to not suffer in silence. From the mundane stress of life to full historic rewrites the new age is caring for yourself. Is this selfish? It can be.
