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| Family gathers around the radio |
Generation Y, also known as the Millennial Generation (Millennials), is becoming the latest generation to come of age. According to
Neil Howe, who spoke at today's BYU Forum, Millennials have the potential to become the next "Greatest Generation" (a term coined by news broadcaster Tom Brokaw for the generation of those born between 1901-1924). The Greatest Generation was marked for being the generation that created a great sense of American community and built the system that ran America for the 20th century. Just as the Greatest Generation would gather around the radio and listen together, Millennials are gathering around computers and watching YouTube videos together. This growing sense of collective and community (social networks) is something that will set this generation apart and help them as they slowly fill positions of power and begin to rebuild the American system for the 21st century.
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The G.I. Generation was a generation
that served their country. So is
Generation Y. |
The radio, a multi-step invention starting from the likes of Nikola Tesla, Guglielmo Marconi, and Sir John Ambrose Flemming, eventually began airing news and other programs around 1920. This device, which relies on signals carried by electromagnetic waves, would come to be a staple in iconic images of those from the Greatest Generation. The Greatest Generation, as Howe argues, was a very community based generation. They had struggled through the Great Depression, and WWII together, so when they came of age, they were ready to build and make changes in America; that is just what they did. This generation was the response to these two great crises and created a great America. Neils Howe makes the connection that this Greatest Generation was the cause of the First Turning (a period in a cyclical process that has defined American history), the American High following WWII.
In a similar respect, Millennials are growing up in the Forth Turning (a time of crisis) just like the Greatest Generation did. Generation Y saw the twin towers fall, the economy crash, and political turmoil ravage Washington and voting campaigns. Howe argues that just like the GI Generation solved the crises (fourth turning) and defined a new America, so will the Millennial Generation for the 21st century. A similarity I find fascinating is how both of these generations find strength in groups and social networks. Now, however, instead of gathering around a radio set, Millennials are gathering around computers to share the news, their latest posts, and YouTube videos. Millennials are also like the Greatest Generation because they want to serve their country. Even from my own personal experiences, I have friends in the Peace Core, I have seen others doing lots of service, and even the number of cadets is increasing in the Air Force ROTC program.
The effect this internet-sharing, tech-savvy, highly social generation will have on the future is yet to be seen. What seems clear to me however, and to Neil Howe, is that Generation Y will be the next generation of national heroes and the New Greatest Generation.
With respect to my Digital Civilization class at BYU, and specifically my
final project, Generation Y's skills both socially and technically are redefining the way they do missionary work. Consider the huge changes on
Mormon.org,
New.LDS.org, and even
MormonMessages on YouTube.
For additional study see:
