Jean Twenge is a psychology professor at San Diego State University, and her research expertise is cultural change, particularly across generations. Her 2006 book, Generation Me, was an insightful investigation into the lives of Millennials, showing how the personalities of those born in the 1980s and '90s were beginning to affect the world around them. But a new group of young people has emerged, those born in an era that has always known the existence of the internet, developed social media platforms, and made smartphones ubiquitous. In her latest book, iGen, Twenge explores how this generation thinks and acts, and what their perspective on life might mean for the rest of us.
Today's young people drink less, party less, drive less, and get pregnant less than previous generations. While they seem to be living safer lives and making better decisions, they are also more anxious and depressed, more easily offended by open dialogue and criticism, more inexperienced and unprepared for working life, and more likely to commit suicide. And for all the socializing they do through texting, Snapchatting, and Facebooking, they are actually more socially inept than other generations. Twenge's research points toward the lifelong attachment to smartphone technology for the explanation.
Since this is the first generation to have instant access to people and information--through not only cell phone technology, but also the internet--at all times of day and in any location, those college-aged and younger have never known a world without immediate updates, without the power that comes from having the entire world at one's fingertips. iGen'ers (as she calls them) are more empowered and technologically capable than anyone in history. However, she discovers that a price is paid for such access.
For example, more young people stay in their rooms at home than go hang out with friends. They are also with their parents...constantly. They also struggle with traditional human communication, such as face-to-face speech and standard writing. Their grades are lower, they study less, and they are less likely to get part-time jobs. Twenge discovers that despite their infinite technological reach, iGen'ers are more isolated and bubble-protected than any previous generation.
Young people today are also more politically independent, in distinction from Millennials who are much more opinionated and active. They are also more likely to avoid religion, preferring a quasi-"spiritual" and do-whatever-you-want outlook. They are a generation that has witnessed the constant bickering among ideologies and seems to have chosen to avoid getting involved, mostly out of fear of offending anyone. Remember, as I noted above, this is a generation hyper-sensitive to others' feelings.
The book is filled with statistics and charts, as well as plenty of first-hand quotes from young interviewees, so if you're someone who's interested in going beyond the common (and not always accurate) anecdotes about "kids these days," Twenge has mountains of hard data to back up her findings. For those who are parents or educators, Twenge's research adds new perspective to the hunches many of us may have had. Her book's subtitle includes a phrase that iGen is "...completely unprepared for adulthood." We'll just have to wait and find out if that turns out to be true.
Today's young people drink less, party less, drive less, and get pregnant less than previous generations. While they seem to be living safer lives and making better decisions, they are also more anxious and depressed, more easily offended by open dialogue and criticism, more inexperienced and unprepared for working life, and more likely to commit suicide. And for all the socializing they do through texting, Snapchatting, and Facebooking, they are actually more socially inept than other generations. Twenge's research points toward the lifelong attachment to smartphone technology for the explanation.
Since this is the first generation to have instant access to people and information--through not only cell phone technology, but also the internet--at all times of day and in any location, those college-aged and younger have never known a world without immediate updates, without the power that comes from having the entire world at one's fingertips. iGen'ers (as she calls them) are more empowered and technologically capable than anyone in history. However, she discovers that a price is paid for such access.
For example, more young people stay in their rooms at home than go hang out with friends. They are also with their parents...constantly. They also struggle with traditional human communication, such as face-to-face speech and standard writing. Their grades are lower, they study less, and they are less likely to get part-time jobs. Twenge discovers that despite their infinite technological reach, iGen'ers are more isolated and bubble-protected than any previous generation.
Young people today are also more politically independent, in distinction from Millennials who are much more opinionated and active. They are also more likely to avoid religion, preferring a quasi-"spiritual" and do-whatever-you-want outlook. They are a generation that has witnessed the constant bickering among ideologies and seems to have chosen to avoid getting involved, mostly out of fear of offending anyone. Remember, as I noted above, this is a generation hyper-sensitive to others' feelings.
The book is filled with statistics and charts, as well as plenty of first-hand quotes from young interviewees, so if you're someone who's interested in going beyond the common (and not always accurate) anecdotes about "kids these days," Twenge has mountains of hard data to back up her findings. For those who are parents or educators, Twenge's research adds new perspective to the hunches many of us may have had. Her book's subtitle includes a phrase that iGen is "...completely unprepared for adulthood." We'll just have to wait and find out if that turns out to be true.