Nearly every week there is a new piece of clickbait about all the different things which have been ruined by millennials. It seems my generation is quite the problem child, shunning responsibility for a life of whimsical entitlement. It seems all of that being told I was loved as a child and receiving participation trophies has ruined me forever. If only we had stopped eating avocado toast then all would be solved.
As I look around, I wonder, where is this life that the internet has told me I am leading? Where is my mountain of avocado toast and living on the beach in Costa Rica? That sounds pretty grand to me! While I haven’t reached that status yet (and hey! Shout out to you millennials who are making it work!), there is one thing idea that seems to be heard over and over again in the depths of the internet….
Millennials are the worst. Or at least what is what you may have been told. Kelly Williams Brown specifically talks about the stereotypes of millennials in her Tedx, but it doesn’t stop with entitlement.
Now as much as I like to poke fun at the stereotypes of our generation, the reality is that millennials are getting a lot of flack for ruining different industries.
Here is a list of eight things that, according to the internet, millennials have ruined:
1. Divorce
First, we ruined marriage, now we have ruined divorce. The divorce rate has fallen 18% in the last 8 years. Much of this has to do with millennials getting married later in life, especially after longer engagements.
2. Napkins
According to a poll conducted by the Washington Post, our generation is instead opting for using paper towels as opposed to napkins.
3. Running
Who needs running when you can Zumba instead? According to WSJ, millennials have shifted their physical fitness practices away from running and instead towards noncompetitive fitness classes. Pass the yoga mat, please.
4. Diamonds
While “Diamonds are a girls best friend,” that may not be so true for the millennial generation. While diamonds are still a common jewelry piece in some millennial closets (particularly for wedding rings), many millennials are now choosing to use alternative stones, including sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and synthetically made stones. This is due to both the large financial cost of diamonds v. other stones, but also the human cost associated with diamond mining which millennials have become more exposed to in our increasingly globalized culture.
5. Fabric Softener
Okay, I did it, I killed the fabric softener industry. Ever since moving out, I have never felt particularly called to use fabric softener. My clothes come out perfectly soft and comfortable out of my shared washer and dryer, thank you very much.
6. Marmalade
Did you know that people under age 28 only account for 1% of marmalade sales? At this rate, we will be putting marmalade makers out of business.
7. Bar Soap
According to Moneyish,”33% of women are willing to use bar soap on their face – with the rest citing soap as old fashioned.” Frankly, I am surprised that number is so high. While I have used an endless amount of products on my face in a quest to rid myself from teenage acne, I can’t say I have ever used bar soap. Clearly, other millennials have joined forces with me and have killed the bar soap industry.
8. Beer
Did you know that we have killed the beer industry? My bank account surely doesn’t seem to think so. More specifically, millennials have been shifting away from consuming beer from large scale breweries (think Budweiser, Corona, etc), and are shifting more towards local craft breweries, wine, and spirits.
These industries have all seen a marked decline as the millennial generation gains more purchasing power. While I may be making light of the above articles, it is important to note that there is always a human cost associated with “killing an industry.” When an industry shuts down, people’s livelihoods are at stake. The question remains, will businesses learn to adjust to the needs of a changing demographic, or will they be left behind in the dust. And if that doesn’t happen, what will millennials ruin next?