Difference of Millennials from Baby Boomers

Millennials and Baby Boomers exhibit mutual traits, but through analysis and observation it is not difficult to see how dissimilar these two generations are. Millennials were pampered and praised during their childhood, whereas Baby Boomers had to learn from experience, through trial and error. The Millennials have been exposed to rapid advances in technology, making their lifestyles significantly different to the Baby Boomers. Boomers made the transition from adolescence to adulthood more fluently and at an earlier age relative to the Millennials who seem to have a prolonged adolescence and begin their “adult life” much later than previous generations.

“Either there are no losers and winners or everyone is a winner”. Millennials were exposed to this notion during their life, antithetical to the Baby Boomers, who knew the distinct differences between winning and losing. Influenced by this, Millennials have a deep belief that they are entitled to everything. Babied by their parents, the Millennials’ work ethic and educational standpoint have been skewed from the course of their predecessors. The idea of simple participation leading to rewards on par to an individual’s peers despite differences in contribution has lowered the initiative to work hard and succeed. Baby Boomers, on the other hand, were taught that hard work and perseverance will lead to success. They had the opportunity to fall flat on their face and learn how to get up contrary to the Millennials who may have missed out on this important life lesson. Due to this, the Boomers are dedicated to bettering themselves through what can be described as drudgery.

Technology has affected the lifestyle of the Millennials to a massive degree relative to the Baby Boomers. Throughout the lifespan of a Millennial, colossal advances in technology have occurred. Vast amounts of knowledge and forms of communication are at the disposal of most Millennials. Boomers, on the other hand, had a relatively harder time obtaining knowledge and communicating. Instead of the use of the internet, an individual would do research in books during the Boomer generation. Most communication between peers occurred verbally during the time of the Baby Boomers, as opposed to an abundance of instant messaging services Millennials are using today. Young adults today center their lives around the technological capabilities they possess, children can be liable to sit around all day on the computer or a video game console. Such behavior can be viewed in a negative way by the general public. The previous generations, including the Boomers, children spent their time outside or using their imagination to quell their boredom.

In prior generations, staying at home until an age nearing mid to late 20s was frowned upon, since it implied that an individual was unable to support themselves. This concept has been removed for the Millennials, implying that their generation has a prolonged adolescence before the transition into adulthood. Millennials see this from a different angle. To them, it is a cheaper and more efficient lifestyle. The Baby Boomer generation started their adulthood around the age of 20. They were living on their own and supporting themselves. Since the Boomers lived on their own on a relatively younger age, a constant, steady pay was necessary to sustain their lifestyle. Unlike the Millennials who go from job to job, with a safety net to fall back on, the Boomers were inclined to stay at a single job for years. Instead of the “daily grind” that Boomers have accustomed themselves to work through, the Millennials are known for their tendency to keep moving forward until the perfect opportunity, comparable to how an individual may go through an abundance of dates before marrying.

Although the Baby Boomer and Millennial generations had commonalities with one another, each generation had distinguishing features that show major differences between the two. Millennials were indulged by their parents, isolated from any negative feedback, contrary to the Baby Boomers tended to learn on their own through hard work and discipline. Technological capabilities of each era such as the internet and forms of communications greatly affected the lifestyles of individuals from both generations, in both positive and negative ways. Because of the parental praise and financial support, Millennials appear to have a prolonged adolescence, putting off work and marriage to cater to other aspects of their lives. Boomers, however, began life on their own by taking control at an earlier time. Nevertheless, both generations have used their capabilities for similar interests such as human equality and the general improvement of the quality of life.

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