Kids These Days

1. Millennials: Shaped by intense competition and economic shifts

Millennials are growing up highly attuned to the needs of capital markets.

Intensified competition. The Millennial generation has been molded by a sociocultural environment that demands constant productivity and achievement. From early childhood, they are pushed to excel in academics, extracurriculars, and personal development, all in preparation for an increasingly competitive job market.

Economic shifts. The rise of neoliberal policies and technological advancements has led to significant changes in the labor market. These include:

• Increased income inequality
• Stagnant wages for most workers
• Decline of middle-class jobs
• Growth of the gig economy and precarious work

As a result, Millennials face a more uncertain economic future than previous generations, despite being the most educated cohort in history.

2. Education: A high-stakes race for human capital accumulation

If America is going to reap what it sows, so far we seem only interested in how much we can count on producing, rather than what the hell it's growing.

Childhood as investment. The American education system has transformed into a high-pressure environment focused on producing workers with marketable skills. This shift has led to:

• Increased homework and standardized testing
• Reduction in free play and creative activities
• Rise of "intensive parenting" and overscheduling

Human capital focus. Education is now viewed primarily as an investment in future earning potential, rather than a means of personal growth or civic development. This perspective has resulted in:

• Emphasis on STEM fields and vocational training
• Devaluation of humanities and liberal arts education
• Growing anxiety among students about their future prospects

The pressure to accumulate human capital starts early and intensifies throughout a student's academic career, often at the expense of their mental health and overall well-being.

3. Higher education: A debt-fueled industry exploiting students

To pursue the case, NCAA Division I football and basketball players had to be certified as a class, a barrier many commentators feared they wouldn't be able to clear.

Student debt crisis. The cost of higher education has skyrocketed, forcing students to take on unprecedented levels of debt. This situation has created a cycle of exploitation:

• Federal student loans enable colleges to raise tuition
• Students borrow more to keep up with rising costs
• Graduates struggle with repayment, impacting life choices

Corporatization of universities. Colleges have become increasingly focused on revenue generation and brand management, often at the expense of educational quality:

• Growth of administrative positions and salaries
• Reliance on adjunct faculty and graduate student labor
• Emphasis on amenities and athletics over academics

The NCAA's exploitation of student-athletes serves as a microcosm of the larger issues in higher education, where students' labor and future earnings are leveraged for institutional gain.

4. Labor market: Polarization and precarity define Millennial work

The growth of growth requires a different kind of person, one whose abilities, skills, emotions, and even sleep schedule are in sync with their role in the economy.

Job market polarization. The labor market has become increasingly divided between high-skill, high-wage jobs and low-skill, low-wage jobs, with a shrinking middle:

• Growth in both professional and service sector jobs
• Decline in traditional middle-class occupations
• Increased competition for desirable positions

Precarious work conditions. Many Millennials face unstable employment situations:

• Rise of gig economy and contract work
• Erosion of workplace benefits and protections
• Expectation of constant availability and "always-on" work culture

These trends have led to a workforce that is more flexible and productive, but also more anxious and insecure about their economic future.

5. Government: From welfare state to youth control complex

America is an insurance company and an occupying army.

Shift in priorities. The American government has transformed from a provider of social welfare to a system of control and surveillance, particularly for young people:

• Reduction in social services and safety net programs
• Increased spending on law enforcement and incarceration
• Implementation of zero-tolerance policies in schools

Criminalization of youth. Young people, especially those from marginalized communities, face increased scrutiny and punishment:

• School-to-prison pipeline
• Disproportionate policing of minority neighborhoods
• Use of surveillance technology in schools and public spaces

This shift has created a generation that is simultaneously more controlled and less supported by government institutions, leading to decreased trust in authority and increased anxiety about the future.

6. Entertainment: Rationalization of creativity and performance

Millennials are the historical embodiment of this cycle run amok, run off the rails, and we can watch the wreckage for free on YouTube after a thirty-second ad.

Professionalization of childhood pursuits. Activities that were once considered leisure or play have become hyper-competitive and professionalized:

• Youth sports transformed into a pipeline for professional athletics
• Child actors and musicians groomed for stardom from a young age
• Rise of "influencers" and social media celebrities

Democratization and exploitation of creativity. While technology has made it easier for individuals to create and distribute content, it has also led to new forms of exploitation:

• Platforms like YouTube monetizing user-generated content
• Expectation that artists will build their own brand and audience
• Decline in traditional revenue streams for creative professionals

This environment has created a generation of young people who are constantly performing and producing, blurring the lines between work, play, and personal expression.

7. Mental health: Anxiety and depression as adaptations to pressure

We are only in the early days of the Donald Trump administration, but the expected market collapse that was to follow the election of the nation's least-qualified candidate to its highest office hasn't come. That tells me that Trump's promises to shake up the political and economic establishments aren't about to be fulfilled.

Rising rates of mental illness. Millennials report higher levels of anxiety and depression than previous generations:

• Increased academic and career pressure
• Financial stress and uncertainty about the future
• Constant connectivity and social media comparison

Medicalization of behavior. There has been a significant increase in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues among young people:

• Rise in ADHD diagnoses and medication
• Widespread use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs
• Normalization of therapy and mental health treatment

These trends reflect both the genuine psychological toll of contemporary society and the medicalization of normal human responses to a high-pressure environment.

8. Technology: Social media as a tool for profit and surveillance

The platform Medium has so muddled the distinction between paid writing and unpaid blogging that even I can't tell the difference half the time.

Pervasive digital integration. Social media and digital technologies have become ubiquitous in Millennials' lives:

• Constant connectivity through smartphones and other devices
• Blurring of personal and professional identities online
• Use of social media as a primary means of communication and self-expression

Exploitation of user data. Tech companies have turned users' personal information and online activity into a valuable commodity:

• Targeted advertising based on user behavior
• Algorithmic curation of content and social connections
• Collection and sale of user data to third parties

This environment has created a generation that is simultaneously more connected and more surveilled than any before, with significant implications for privacy, personal autonomy, and social interaction.

9. Behavior: Paradoxical shifts in drug use, sexuality, and trust

It's hard to work out the exact relation, but the "end of men" definitely hasn't been a zero-sum gain for women workers, most of whom (judging by the end of progress out of poverty-level jobs) seem to have hit their heads on the glass ceiling.

Changing substance use patterns. Contrary to stereotypes, Millennials show different trends in drug and alcohol use:

• Decrease in binge drinking and hard drug use
• Increase in marijuana use and acceptance
• Rise in prescription drug abuse, particularly stimulants

Shifting sexual norms. Despite greater acceptance of diverse sexualities, Millennials are having less sex than previous generations:

• Later age of sexual initiation
• Fewer sexual partners on average
• Increased use of contraception and safer sex practices

Declining social trust. Millennials report lower levels of trust in institutions and other people:

• Skepticism towards government and traditional media
• Wariness of corporate motives and marketing
• Caution in personal relationships and social interactions

These behavioral shifts reflect both the pressures of the contemporary environment and adaptive responses to new social and technological realities.

10. Future risks: Algorithmic discrimination and climate privilege

If Millennials are going to alter the path we're on, it's realistically going to happen in the next ten to twenty years.

Algorithmic bias. As AI and machine learning become more prevalent, there's a risk of encoded discrimination:

• Biased hiring algorithms perpetuating workplace inequalities
• Credit scoring systems disadvantaging certain groups
• Predictive policing reinforcing racial profiling

Climate change impacts. The effects of global warming will likely exacerbate existing inequalities:

• Wealthy individuals and nations better equipped to adapt
• Displacement of vulnerable populations
• Resource scarcity leading to increased conflict

Millennials face the challenge of addressing these emerging threats while navigating the existing pressures of economic uncertainty and social change. The window for meaningful action is limited, requiring urgent and coordinated efforts to reshape societal priorities and structures.

Last updated: October 31, 2024