One thing I’ve learned by going back to school with a bunch of “Millennials” (aka Generation Y) is that these kids are definitely more up-to-date, connected and informed than my generation (Generation X). They’re in constant communication with each other through Facebook, Twitter, IMs, and texts; busily updating their various networks of “friends” on “what’s the hap” right now. Unfortunately, as Brian Unger so eloquently put it, “nobody really cares.” Confused? Let’s look at an example:
Lets say one of these super connected people finds a video or news article on the Internet they want to share with their “friends”. He/she updates their respective “friend” networks of this “awesome” new find using Twitter, Facebook, etc. which starts a chain reaction of “friends” notifying other “friends.”
The problem is that even though some 90% of these “friends” already knew of the “awesome” story or video’s existence before receiving these social network updates. Now they have to frantically participate in the ensuing pseudo-discussion (via comments, tweets, IM’s, buzzes or text message) that the event has created in order to avoid being labeled “unplugged” or uninformed. Samples of these discussions look like this: “that is totally 10 minutes ago” or “seen it, rofl” or “wow, that talking chick is really fat” and are of no practical use to anyone involved. Yet as the comments grow and the pseudo-discussion goes on, people somehow seem to want to join in and add their own tidbits of useless information seemingly just in order to not be the only “friend” community member who didn’t participate at all.
So even though Generation Y is always super connected, informed and up-to-date, the information they are informed about is junk and rarely benefits anyone. Updating one another other about it is like digital gossip but slower, less fun and mostly a waste of everyone’s time. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good gossip session as much as the next person. I just like to do it face to face, not over a medium where I have to wait 20 seconds for a lackluster response like FTRF. I mean I just don’t understand why on gods green earth anyone would feel compelled to announce their grocery purchase at Trader Joes to a social network of friends. It’d be something you mention to a friend as you pass them on the sidewalk, but you wouldn’t blurt it out at a giant get together of all your friends.
After my experience talking and working on group projects with these constantly distracted people I’ve made up my mind: If I have to hire any Millenials to work with, my first interview question will be whether or not they have an iPhone, use Twitter and/or are on Facebook.