We’re the millennials. The 90’s and late 80’s babies stuck between a generation that worked traditionally in a less connected world and a (younger wtf?) digital generation who are grabbing opportunities to work in newly developed fields they’ve grown up with. We’re the generation that adults tut at for spending too much time on our phones. For taking more time snapping photos than of looking at them afterwards. We’re too engrossed in our “digital age”, it’s not “good for us”. The thing is, we’re the only generation that will get this sort of reaction. When our kids are on their phones we’ll understand how they feel.
Don’t get me wrong. Staring at your phone more than you stare at nature isn’t a good life choice. Typing more than you talk isn’t either, and it’s important to be aware of this, but don’t- under any circumstances- let anyone take the uniqueness of your generation away from you.
The new buzzword is ‘phubbing’; meaning ‘snubbing someone to look at your phone’, and sure, if you’ve gone round to your Nanna’s house for a cuppa yet stare at your phone most of the visit, then yes you’re phubbing… but whatever new fangled word they’ve come up with at the end of the day it just comes down to being rude or not. On the other hand, if you’re staring at your phone for your whole commute, I get you. Sometimes we use phones as escapism, not because we hate social interaction but simply to make a boring situation more bearable.
Like anything in life, it’s about balance. But don’t feel bad about enjoying yourself. In the same way that the 60’s were defined by freelove and experimental festivals, now is magical for this. Just because this experience is behind a screen doesn’t mean it’s any less worth having. Spoil yourself with the new and exciting toys of now, of making your own movies on a GoPro, of sending snapchats to friends across the globe you would otherwise never see or work remotely from anywhere. Who before Generation Y could take inspiration instantly from millions of people around the world, or learn a whole new career from their bedroom? Yes, screens are less sociable and we all have a job to do to make sure we don’t isolate ourselves. But don’t let anyone make you feel bad for enjoying the uniqueness of the incredible leaps forward that were made while you grew up beside them. This time will never come back and just like we remember past generations for what defined them, people will remember the 2000’s for innovation no one thought possible. Enjoy that, and don’t let anyone take away from you, the uniqueness of now.