It’s often stated that millennials are among the most disadvantaged generations, and this isn’t an exaggeration, regardless of what older generations might think. What they often overlook is that our generation has witnessed the most rapid and profound changes in the world. The millennial cohort is defined as those born from 1981 to 1996, but those of us born after 1985 are particularly distinctive, growing up at the dawn of the 21st century and a new era of technology.
One thing millennials often get criticized for is our reliance on smartphones. It’s true that we engage extensively with technology, using it for more than just work. We were the first to embrace new mobile tech, which is why our parents often see us as their tech support. Yet, we also remember a time without smartphones, tablets, and WiFi. I got my first home computer at age 13, and the sound of dial-up internet is a nostalgic reminder of my childhood. My first cell phone was a prepaid model, a basic brick with a physical antenna, and I didn’t get a proper plan until I turned 20.
I often joke that my longest relationship has been with Facebook. It’s not far from the truth. My school gained access to Facebook in the fall of 2004, just a few months after I started high school. I remember when there was no timeline or status updates, and communication was limited to DMs. Observing Facebook evolve from a platform for college students to the mainstream social media giant it is today has been fascinating. Once the Boomers joined, it lost its initial charm, mirroring many experiences in our millennial lives.
Social media plays a significant role in millennial culture. While we didn’t create it, we were early adopters of every new platform. Many of us expressed our teenage angst on LiveJournal and customized our MySpace pages, learning coding along the way to reflect our identities.
The AOL era shaped much of our adult communication. Many millennials dislike talking on the phone, which is unsurprising. AIM was the precursor to texting, and our away messages were early versions of status updates. Creating an AOL profile feels similar to writing a dating app bio, conveying our personalities in a concise way.
Millennials born in the late ’80s and beyond have transformed social media into an art form, influencing pop culture significantly. My partner, born in 1980 and straddling the line between Gen X and Millennial, often finds herself needing a glossary of terms when we talk. Our generational differences, despite being born in the same decade, are evident.
While Gen X is often seen as apathetic, millennials, especially those born after 1985, are characterized by their empathy. Our formative years were marked by significant trauma, such as the events of September 11, 2001. I was 15 when the world irrevocably changed, and that day is etched in my memory as I navigated a transformed Manhattan. The following year, airport security changed drastically, and my parents could no longer accompany me to the gate.
This collective trauma defines our generation. We grew up in a pre-9/11 world but came of age in a post-9/11 reality. For many of us, our first election was in 2004 during George W. Bush’s second term, which felt like an immense burden as we navigated the uncertainty of what a second term could mean. I was a college freshman then, and the weight of John Kerry’s loss was heavy on our shoulders. Concerns about potential drafts and war were prevalent.
Those of us born after 1985 have never participated in an election with low stakes. Even if not all of us identify as liberals, many carry a strong sense of civic duty and have faced the consequences of each election over the past two decades, shaping our moral perspectives distinctly from other generations. Graduating into the 2008 recession drastically altered our life trajectories. Finding meaningful work was a struggle, with many friends facing similar challenges despite adhering to societal expectations.
The events of the early 2000s have profoundly impacted millennials and our culture. That meme with the dog in the burning room saying “This is fine?” perfectly encapsulates our experience. We inherited a world ablaze and tried to extinguish the flames, only to watch them grow. Now, we often find ourselves scrolling through Twitter as the world burns around us, trying to channel our collective trauma into positive change, only to be dismissed as entitled.
Our nostalgic retreat to ’90s childhood is comforting. I cherish sharing my childhood experiences with my son, watching classic cartoons and movies while reminiscing about life before WiFi. I recall having to call Moviefone for movie times. Transitioning from iPods to streaming music was challenging for me, yet I can still enjoy my nostalgia on my Android phone. No other generation straddles the line between past and present quite like us late ’80s and early ’90s kids.
It’s crucial to remember that previous generations often infantilize us, forcing us into adulthood in a society that doesn’t recognize our maturity. Even now, as the younger millennials approach 30, we’re still treated like college students. Many of us are managing significant student debt, 401(k)s, families, and mortgages. We’re the ones those younger generations poke fun at for sticking to skinny jeans and side parts.
At the end of the day, we’ve earned our stunted adulthood. If we choose to communicate in text speak or express ourselves through memes, that is our prerogative.
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Summary:
Individuals born between 1985 and 1995 represent a distinctive generation shaped by rapid technological advancements and significant societal changes. Our experiences, marked by collective trauma, have influenced our perspectives and interactions with the world. As the first generation to navigate a post-9/11 reality, we carry a unique sense of duty and empathy. Despite being often misunderstood by older generations, we’ve earned our place in adulthood, blending nostalgia with the realities of modern life.