The Millennial Legacy

Emma Bio

Are Millennials Technologically Adept

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Millennials were born completely immersed in a digitized world

The shift in attitudes among Millennials compared to other American generations is substantial, contributing to a huge shift towards technology that has impacted their own group and society at large.

Generally regarded as the generation behind the speed at which technology-driven attitudes are accepted into the mainstream, Millennials have been the catalyst for change as they utilize the latest in innovative tools in the workplace and beyond. Their resilience has not only re-defined how companies do business and market their products and services to the general public, but also human interaction.

As the only group born completely immersed in a digitized world, Millennials’ attitudes towards technology are dramatically different, with most beginning to use computers by kindergarten and the vast majority using email at least once a day.

Social media has played an important component of their lives for many since they were toddlers and has only increased over time. Referred to as digital natives, their access to the internet and information has resulted in more expansive attention ranges, increased active learning, improved critical thinking skills, and more tolerance along social and political lines.

No matter which generation, the majority of people believe that the internet has personally benefited them and positively impacted society. Even baby Boomers and those from the Silent Generation generally agree that the internet has been an overall boon for the world. Recently, however, the average American has had slightly less positive views of the internet compared to only a few years ago. The most affected group under this are Gen Xers, with just under 70% positing that the internet has improved society at large. Even among the Silent Generation and Millennials, those that go online are slightly less optimistic compared to studies from only five years ago.

The fact remains that there must continue to be steps taken to stay competitive as innovation emerges. As the future leaders of the world, it rests on the shoulders of Millennials to ultimately decide how influential technology will be on their lives and the world. Although Millennials are comfortable using technology at home, in social settings, and in the workplace, other generational groups are still trying to make up the divide that currently exists between them and their younger counterparts.

Millennials Education in America by the Numbers

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The Millennials are the most educated generation to date

The value of education for Millennials cannot be underestimated, with the generation to date the most educated in American history, up nearly a quarter from the previous generation. Aside from being more educated, they are also more ethnically and racially diverse than their parents’ generation, with more people of color achieving college degrees than ever before. Nearly 50% of the Millennial Generation now has post-secondary degrees, with another 18% that have postsecondary education. As a generational group, Millennials are more educated across the board, yet there is a sizeable portion – nearly 40% – that begin college but dropout with no degree or only receive an associate’s degree. Another interesting caveat from the data is that Millennial women are more educated than their male counterparts, outpace men in their generation at a rate of 36% versus 29%, and even more dramatically when compared to their great-grandparents’ generation, when women were 6% less likely to have attained a college degree.

The statistics prove that Millennials possess more college degrees than other American generations, yet test scores confirm what many have been discussing for years – the math, literacy, and problem-solving skills they possess have significantly dwindled on average. These weaker skill se

ts and lower test scores indicate that America lags behind internationally, which will affect the competitive workforce in the future.

As the cost of education continues to soar in America, the subjects predominantly studied by Millennials has shifted as well, indicating that the technological advances of the last thirty years have made a tremendous impact on those decisions. Informational sciences, or IT, is at the forefront of that shift, a natural shift that takes into consideration how affected Millennials have been through the emergence of computers and smartphones. Architecture combines art and technology, and is also one of the more popular degrees pursued for Millennials that have a preference for art and numbers. Similarly, automotive and electronics technology are also high on the list, which can lead to more stable positions in the labor workforce. Social media has exploded as well, and fittingly, other popular majors currently are marketing and creative professions that blend writing, video, and technical skills. As the largest group of Americans now with more than 75 million, Millennials are changing the face and trajectory of America through their significantly different views from previous generations and their pursuit of higher education.

The Millennial Generation

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Millennials

As the world continues to debate the essence of what being a Millennial is, the Millennial generation, alternately known as ‘Generation Y’ or ‘Generation Net’, continues to confound those that study the demographic as they come into their own internationally.

Defined as those born between the early 80s to early 2000s, there have been many discussions and debates about the advantages of being a Millennial, and the perks associated with the group are considered to be quite substantial.

What are Millennials Known For?

Millennials are arguably the most technologically savvy of all demographic groups and are at the forefront of social media.

Embracing diversity is something that the Millennial generation is quite well-known for. This is due in large part to them also being the most diversified group across socioeconomic platforms, from same-sex marriage to intercultural and interracial unions. As a diverse generation, they are more prone to accepting differences and embracing them instead of shying away like their predecessors have been more prone to do.

They are one of the first generations that was raised with the adage that ‘impossible is nothing’ via teachers, family, and other adults in their lives. This no-nonsense approach has affected their overall behavior in tremendous ways, regarded as go-getters and free thinkers that are optimistic and determined to get what they want.

No matter the issue – from the environment to wellness, to healthcare, social consciousness, politics, and more, Millennials are known for stepping up and voicing their concerns to forge a new path that goes bolder than their parents’ and grandparents’ generations. The tendency to care more about those around them and the impact of their actions is a benefit that later generations will appreciate in the future.

Millennials consider themselves citizens of the world, so they are more likely to travel and feel comfortable any place around the globe. As global citizens, they care about helping the world not only in their own backyard, but across countries and time zones.

Their attitude of believing they can achieve anything is key to the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in this group, with fewer looking towards a standard 9-to-5 careers like their parents and many taking active part in the gig economy. They are more likely to work for start-ups and mid-sized companies than huge conglomerates. That’s one of the reasons many Millennials appear in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Everyone seems to have an opinion one way or another about Millennials, but there is one thing that can be agreed upon – they are eager to impact their lives and the world at large.

Generation Calculation

Generation Calculator


Monopoly for Millennials: A Classic, Remixed

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Monopoly for Millennials

Millennials are the new grown kids on the block these days, and Hasbro, the company behind the classic Monopoly game launched a new version of this popular board game that speaks directly to the Millennial market, featuring special characteristics to differentiate it from its origins.

Monopoly for Millennials has been designed specifically for those born between 1981 and 2000, with slightly revised rules, a new cover, and plenty of the stereotypes that the generational group is known for.

The re-imagined box includes Mr. Monopoly himself posing for a selfie, complete with headphones over his head, a cup of coffee in his hand, and a participation medal in the other, with the tagline: ‘forget real estate, you can’t afford it anyway’. Instead of the traditional method of bankrupting your foes, this version asks that players collect experiences in lieu o property. Examples include visiting a friend and having a conversation on their couch, meeting for vegan bistro, or even a meditation sanctuary retreat. Experiences to be had by players of this version include spending time in the parent’s basement, bargain thrift shopping, and organic living at the farmers’ market. Other notable new entries include hashtags and crying emojis as the game pieces.

This is a very different version than GenX and Baby Boomer’s editions, which were all about the accumulation of wealth and real estate. Players are also nudged into finding the next best place for foodies to indulge in the latest entrees, shopping at exclusive locales, and community involvement.

The sticker price for this new revamped experience goes for just under $20, the perfect price point for Millennials to indulge in a game that has managed to survive across several generations with no signs of slowing down. And for traditionalists, the game still includes the classic ‘go to jail’ space for old time’s sake.

2016 Primary Recap – New Hampshire

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Clinton and Sanders
Clinton and Sanders

New Hampshire formally kicked off the primary season and while Donald Trump handily won the GOP primary there, Bernie Sanders ended up crushing frontwoman Hillary Clinton. It is possible that since Sanders and Trump are viewed as many to be outsiders, this could have worked in their favour, but Clinton and Sanders received more total votes, which is a sign about the bigger picture concerning the election.

In 2nd place was John Kasich, a surprise of sorts considering his mainstream appeal. On the DNC side, many didn’t think Clinton stood a chance up north, and in Iowa she merely squeaked by with a win by 1%. Clinton vowed to do better by Millennials that mainly support Sanders and are embracing socialism as a major platform. Millennials are staunchly in the Dems’ corner, and with Trump seen as a one-hit wonder, the rhetoric is what ultimately will decide fates.