Boomers are often blamed for big issues like global warming and economic troubles. But millennials are starting to wonder what their own kids might say about them in the future.
In a recent social media, millennials got together to discuss what their children might blame them for a few decades down the line. This discussion covered everything from environmental issues to technology and lifestyle issues. Here are 12 answers that give an interesting insight into how millennials already perceive the legacy they’re leaving.
Featured Image Credit: AllaSerebrina /Depositphotos.com.
Privacy
Although millennials always use social media and internet in their daily lives, they don’t fully understand how things like AI and big data work. They easily share everything online without thinking twice about it. This includes photos, locations, and even personal details. Future generations would find this behavior stupid and irresponsible. They may even have to fight to regain their privacy in a world where almost everything is tracked.
Pollution
Despite what they know about climate change, millennials have been polluting the world in their own right. Environmental issues are made worse by things like fast fashion, one-time plastics and constant consumption. But many millennials don’t seem to realize this. Their children may well ask why more wasn’t done to protect the planet – at least when it was still possible to make a difference. They’d feel as if their parents did not do enough to leave them a safer and greener planet.
Online Identity Shortage
With millions of people joining social media, usernames and online handles are becoming harder to find. Millennials were part of this rush to claim unique online identities. Perhaps in the future, people might be unable to find simple usernames or email addresses that aren’t already taken. They could point the finger at millennials who used up all the good names.
Relationship Building
Many millennials deserve some of the blame for relying on digital communication instead of face-to-face interaction. Texts, social media, and dating apps often take the place of in-person meet-ups. Future generations might struggle to build real relationships that go beyond the surface, because everything feels distant and digital. They might feel that the way millennials communicated have weakened the ability to genuinely connect with others.
Digital Validation
Millennials grew up with social media. They measure their worth through their online interactions – based on how many likes, comments, shares, etc. they get. But their children may blame them for creating a society in which people base their self-worth on online presence and clicks. This constant need for approval might make future generations feel insecure.
Unregulated Social Media
When Millennials grew up, social media was mostly unregulated. Harmful content could spread like wildfire, and platforms did not strict rules (like they do now) to control them. When these issues were ignored for so long, they became worse. This is when misinformation, bullying or other unhealthy trends became commonplace in social media. This unregulated social media is another reason for future generations to find fault with millennials.
Declining Birth Rates
Most millennials have delayed childbirth or given up on children altogether. This is mainly because of their lifestyle choices or economic issues. However, their future children might accuse them of pushing birth rates down. In fact, they will have to face an aging population with few younger people to support them.
Vaping’s Legacy
Vaping quickly gained popularity, particularly with millennials, as an alternative to smoking. But it had health consequences of its own. Millennials may be criticized by future generations for making the act of vaping more acceptable as they did not necessarily know about its long-term consequences. They could fall victim to this trend in ways millennials didn’t foresee.
Unrealistic Beauty Standards
Many millennials helped to popularize filters and influencers on social media. The same goes for cosmetic surgery. Their children might end up hating them for setting unrealistic expectations on appearance. They might feel pressured to conform to these standards, and can develop self-esteem and body-image issues as a result.
Cancel Culture
Millennials are often pegged as some of the earliest adopters of cancel culture—where public figures or people are rapidly condemned and ‘canceled’ for their missteps. Future generations might blame them for creating a world where people are afraid to make mistakes or speak their minds publicly. They might have felt that cancel culture stifled open conversation and growth.
Economic Woes
High living costs and student debt meant that millennials were poor. Not all of this was their fault, but a future generation might blame them anyway for not pushing harder for economic reform. Their own children may well grow up to face even greater financial challenges, and wonder why millennials didn’t do more to sort the system.
Disney Domination
Millennials grew up with Disney. In fact, they made it a giant in the entertainment industry. But their children could blame them for creating a monopoly. They might feel that Disney’s control over shows, movies, and other content restrict creativity and diversity.
Source: Reddit.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.