Why Does Every Generation Think the Next One is Doomed? (and Why They're Wrong)
What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets, inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?
— Plato (or Socrates)
It's funny how every generation tends to look at the next one and think, "What on Earth are they doing?" It's like a never-ending cycle. Back in '93, a Newsweek writer from the baby boomer generation swiped at Gen X, calling them "The Whiny Generation." He thought they were all about moaning and groaning over nothing. As someone who might have been guilty of scribbling down my thoughts about being a Gen Xer, I can say that this finger-pointing isn't new.
Fast forward to today, and as a parent of millennials, Gen Z, and even a little Gen Alpha, I've seen each of these groups get their fair share of criticism, much like that old Newsweek article. They're often labeled as entitled, unappreciative, and out of touch with previous generations' values.
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And it gets worse. Somehow, my TikTok and YouTube algorithm has been infected with a string of educators and influencers who are obsessed with the message that our kids have behavior problems, they lack respect, their parents are missing in action, and they are somehow exhibiting social disconnection issues that have never existed before.
This video is a great example:
You might watch the numerous examples in that video and nod in agreement. The complaints might ring true. What's also true is that it could just be more boomershit.
You might be turning into that person who emails 100 people because you’ve been told Bill Gates will give you $1,000.
Dissing the coming generation is an old problem
This trend of older folks giving younger ones a hard time is as old as time itself.
Ancient Greek thinkers grumbled about the youth in Athens loving luxury, having bad manners, and disrespecting authority.
In 1859, The Scientific American accused young people of wasting too much time mastering chess, the Fortnite of that age.
The article said:
[A] pernicious excitement to learn and play chess has spread all over the country, and numerous clubs for practicing this game have been formed in cities and villages. Why should we regret this? it may be asked. We answer, chess is a mere amusement of a very inferior character, which robs the mind of valuable time that might be devoted to nobler acquirements, while at the same time it affords no benefit whatever to the body.
An anonymous author for the Hull Daily Mail wrote in 1925, “We defy anyone who goes about with his eyes open to deny that there is, as never before, an attitude on the part of young folk which is best described as grossly thoughtless, rude, and utterly selfish.”
The Wall Street Journal accused 30-somethings of arrested development in 1984:
A few [35-year-old friends] just now are leaving their parents’ nest. Many friends are getting married or having a baby for the first time. They aren’t switching occupations, because they have finally landed a ‘meaningful’ career – perhaps after a decade of hopscotching jobs in search of an identity. They’re doing the kinds of things our society used to expect from 25-year-olds.
And, who today hasn’t participated in the generational heckling that has made avocado toast for millennials what watermelon is for black people?
The science of “kids these days”
But why do we keep this negativity going? Is it just because we look back at our younger days with rose-colored glasses and think everything was better back then? Or is it more about being scared of change and new ways of living?
Some compelling research tells us that we often see what we want to see. We hear what fits our beliefs and ignore each generation's wide range of experiences and achievements. We're quick to generalize about young people, not paying attention to the many who are actually out there breaking the mold and doing amazing things.
It's like looking through a photo album filled with selective, nostalgic memories when we think about why we buy into these generational myths. We use these edited snapshots to judge younger generations, but it's not the whole picture.
Our brains naturally look for stuff that backs up our beliefs. So, if you already think millennials are lazy, you'll notice every story that supports that and ignore anything that doesn't. This confirmation bias is like a filter, making us stick to the "kids these days" stereotype.
As we get older, change feels scarier. We get comfortable with what we know, and anything new or different can make us uneasy. Watching young people challenge traditions and do things their way can feel threatening like our way of life is slipping away. This fear often shows up as negativity and skepticism toward younger generations.
But we don't have to be stuck in this mindset. We can see past our biases and open up to what younger people have to offer. We can aim for real understanding, talk honestly with each other, and work toward a future where everyone's strengths are valued.
Closing generational divides and being better ancestors
Instead of lumping all young people into one big stereotype, let's look at them as individuals, each with their own story and experiences. Like a mosaic comprises many different pieces, each generation consists of diverse individuals. Using broad labels doesn't capture who they are or what they bring.
We can start by listening to their stories, understanding their challenges, and celebrating their successes. By moving beyond stereotypes, we can better appreciate the richness and potential of every generation.
It's important to realize that this whole "kids these days" may be morally satisfying, but it's unhelpful and pretty off the mark. Every generation has its own unique challenges and strengths. Saying they're somehow worse or lacking their values is just another example of how we don't recognize their potential.
