Generation Why

The kids are alright: Generation Y is filled with graduates from the “University of YouTube” and experts in 140-character philosophies. But because of the free access to all kinds of information and schools of thought, at least this generation knows how to ask why.

Sure, call this generation spoiled — what with our mid-life crises, existential angst, and narcissistic dreams — but this is a generation of movers and thinkers.

When the gateways of the Internet paved the way to reconnecting with, well, basically, the world, this bore fruit in a new generation sparked with great energy.

Suddenly, people had free access to all sorts of information. With free access to information, came freedom of expression. With the freedom to express arose a generation of storytellers. People were quick to share all kinds of stories, thoughts or information: from hair tutorials to movie reviews to political opinion to a blow-by-blow of last night’s party. Everyone started talking, and there would always be someone listening.

Mis-Education: Information

My brother calls it the “University of YouTube.” Ask someone where he or she learned how to fix a bike, make spaghetti, or roll a joint, and chances are they will say “YouTube.” Some of life’s most important lessons can be found on Google: “How to get over your ex,” “What your personality says about you.” Schools need to find a better way to teach things if the curriculum can already be found in top results of the search engine.

In fact, all of this unfiltered access to information has shaken the pillars of authority. We don’t need networks to tell us which girls and boys are singing superstars, we can just base it on the most hits on YouTube; we don’t need a teacher to tell us how photosynthesis works, we can just ask Jeeves; we don’t need to know how to spell “nauseous,” we can just use autocorrect.

Yolo: Philosophy

Today’s youth is also unapologetic and unashamed to express their hopes, dreams and fears online. These make for fun reading on Twitter. The trending hashtag YOLO (You Only Live Once) has become popular because of the sense of empowerment it encompasses:

“Gonna get smashed tonight because YOLO!”

“Going to travel to shady places with strangers because YOLO!”

This is a generation fully aware that the end doesn’t always justify the means; that the momentary time they have on their hands must be used to make spectacular things, to squeeze the very essence out of “experience.”

My boss, who is 15 years older than me, asked me once:

BOSS: Do young people like you think about time? Like time passing by?

ME: Of course!

BOSS: Like how?

ME: Like, you know, “My youth is slipping away and I have to make the most out of it.”

BOSS: That’s so dramatic!

ME: It’s the only thing we think about. You’re only young once.

BOSS: Sometimes, I think, “Wow, I’m 38 now—“

ME: We don’t want to be, like, 38 and think, “What have I done with my life?”

Sure, call us spoiled, but this seemingly lost generation is also filled with wanderers. That’s because the Generation Y has started to ask the question, “Why?” As in: they have learned to question things as they continue to seek, learn, and discover. They will have lived knowing that they had spent the wonder years doing something… anything.