It’s a daily observation to see young individuals glued to their phones, computer screens muting outside noise with headphones. From afar, it may seem hard to imagine how the Millennial generation creates a sense of purpose when they are constantly plugged in and tuning out the external world. But this is exactly how we connect to our individual purpose. As a Millennial, I can argue that there are three prominent avenues the Millennial generation use to connect with their individual purpose: online social networks, the relationships built from those networks and the identity or self-perception created as a result of online activity.
1. Online Networks
Sociologist Karen Foster argues that “generation” is a matter of ideas created in response to the economic, political and environmental times. For a generation that grew up online, Millennials are accustomed to instant access to information, connection to others and being in the “know” 24/7. Their values, opinions and aspirations, essentially the foundation of their purpose, has been created, shared and molded through interactions among various social networks. An individual’s social network becomes the link to their community, culture, and hub; most of which occurs online through various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogs.
2. Relationships
Those technological interactions build meaningful relationships for Millennials. Social media made it possible for individuals to create social groups, events and even movements based around common shared beliefs, building the foundation for connections and relationships. Research shows that network connections and relationships are some of the most important aspects to Millennials. Meaning is created and sustained through these relationships and networks where they are invested.
“[Millennials] want work that is meaningful and consistent with their socially and environmentally responsible values. They’re disaffected, to be sure, but that disaffection conceals a drive toward more caring, compassionate relationships and away from materialism. And in these ways, they’re not so very different from Boomers and Generation X,” as best stated by Karen Foster
3. Identity
Another important outlet that connects a Millennial to his or her purpose is self-perception or a personal identity. The previously noted purpose study discusses in the section about ‘Identity’ that internalizing one’s role in society is a main source of developing a sense of purpose. Furthermore, we Millennials build self-awareness by how we surmise we are perceived by others. Connectivity and prominence in social networks is way for Millennials to confirm their role, status and relationships while helping them to connect back to their purpose. So, while Millennials may seem overly obsessed with their IPhones, Twitter accounts and Tumblr blogs, it’s because they are the channels to their network, the platform where their relationships are formed, identity is created and purpose is perpetuated.
