Differences in Generations?
Written by Aric Schroeder, Former Student on Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Cell phones, computers, and watching T.V., all commonplace for our generation. The 2000’s has proven to be captivated by technological advancements. The modern generation is plagued with new problems and issues that have been passed down from generations prior, perhaps creating high expectations for the newly founded generation. There are many factors which separate millennial's from other other generations such new technology and newly arising conflicts around the world.
“We are living in our generation the way we should be [in this generation],” said junior Adriana Jones. Times certainly have changed, but has our generation moved from traditional values too much?
“I think our generation is perfect,” said junior Isaiah Roetcisoender.
Statistics from The Pew Research center show that an astonishing 90% of people ranging from ages 18-29 use some form of social networking whereas people of the age 65 or older are only at 35% in the year 2015. This data is indicating that the younger generation may be either more dependent or more in tune with technology resources.
“Our generation is screwed in case of war,” said Roetcisoender. The Pew Research Center shows that young men of the silent generation, or people born before 1946, were ten times more likely to be veterans than today’s generation.
“I bet some of my courtesy clerks could take them [bad guys],” said Jaynee Jones, a 50-year-old baby boomer. “[The modern generation workers are] strong and motivated.”
Millennials have also surpassed Gen X population numbers working in the labor force, now at 53.5 million with Gen X at a close second with 52.7 million in 2015.
Political interests for millennials are much different than those of the baby boomer generation. According to Pew Research study, millennials have proven to be much less interested in political affairs in comparison to baby boomers. Only 26% to a quarter of millennials have selected politics as one of their top three subjects they are most interested and in tune with, whereas 45% of baby boomers chose politics as one of theirs.
Millennials also tend to lean more progressive on social issues and government expansion, unlike baby boomers, who have proven to grow more conservative as they aged, favoring smaller government. 53% of millennials agree that they want the government to grow so it can offer more services, whereas 58% of baby boomers support a smaller government with fewer services provided.
Today’s generation has experienced a completely different life that is incomparable to older generations such as the baby boomers and the silent generation. Whether generations have properly adapted to their current circumstances or not, it is up to their generation to deal with the global problems at hand.
