Have we become a narcissistic generation?
“What are you doing?” insert mundane task here
This one question lies at the core of any established social networking site. Yahoo, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter—all created with YOU in mind. Dedicated in promoting your interests, your dreams, your friends, and your personality. Observing this one question that is posed to me every time I log into one of these sites, raised another and more troubling question within me; am I a narcissist?
The full ramifications of popular social networking sites are still unclear, although some researchers have argued that the younger and tech savvy “Me” generation, who utilize these sites are a more confident and motivated group. Unfortunately this highly advanced and sophisticated generation does have its trade offs. With all these newfound pressures to portray a perfectly crafted online persona combined with a perfectionist mentality, in turn, has created a depressed and dangerously narcissistic youth.
The new “Me” generation is composed of young people from ages 7 to 36, which would put me directly grouped within this category.
I have a problem with this.
Yes I completely agree with the fact that access to the Internet and social networking sites has promoted the shameless promotion of the self. Yes I am guilty of this, I’m a Facebook junkie, I Tweet, and have my own blog for crying out loud. Still, even though this generation spends more time thinking about how many people will react to the cute but half-drunk picture just posted to their wall, rather than working on more important endeavors; I feel that this group of individuals has been a lot more successful then they’ve received credit for.
My mom likes to constantly remind me, and argue endlessly, that I am apart of this pool of offspring that is the “Me” generation, and how us young people are ungrateful or take things for granted.
Sure, it is hard for some to leave their protective cyber bubble for a few minutes to address real life problems and genuine concern for others. It’s easy to become wrapped up in your own life and forget the other 6.9 billion that occupy your world. But you can’t blame this narcissistic ignorance on a specific generation -–what it comes down to is society.
We are just mere reflections of the society that we live in. In essence, if your culture praises free enterprise, wealth, status, and beauty, then more often than not—you will begin to embody and pursue this individualistic course in life.
I am not a part of the “Me” cohort; I am a part of a “Me” society that has become America… but I’m trying to leave.
