Millennial middle managers

Not too long ago, millennials were branded the carefree generation who wanted it all without putting in the work. Raised to believe that grit and persistence could unlock the dream of home ownership, a little travel and a stable career, before the goal posts continued to move.

As Gen Z takes its turn as the “lazy” generation, millennials are left managing the space in between. Too young to profit from structures of the past, too shaped by it to start from scratch.

The evolution of technology is where the push and pull feels strongest. Millennials grew up alongside the rise of social media, streaming and smartphones, creating the bridge between the offline and online worlds. They navigated uncharted territory, learning how to live both publicly and privately through screens.

They are old enough to remember life before the internet, yet still carry a faded memory of life offline that helps them sense check reality, even if not always successfully.

Now they’re raising kids in a digital world while helping their parents navigate it. They’re guiding both directions, using lived experience as their north star and trying to keep their own balance intact. Gifting them the full middle-manager experience.

The digital divide between young and old has shifted into more of an alliance. Sharing a mutual desire for connection, community and convenience.

Older generations have embraced technology to make everyday life easier. Accessing essential services, contributing to community groups and staying in touch with family and friends can all be done from the comfort of home.

The double-edged sword of constant online connection is that it can also create an invisible bubble. With grocery deliveries, Telehealth appointments and FaceTime catch-ups, it’s possible to go days without any real world contact.

As with most things, the inevitable cost of convenience comes with unintended consequences. Insidiously fuelling a fractured sense of belonging and a growing feeling of loneliness.

Navigating misinformation, scams, cyber threats and the enticement of instant gratification from social media and gaming, while trying to maintain real-world relationships, is a challenge that transcends generations.

In the final report on the Parliamentary Inquiry of Loneliness in New South Wales, problematic social media use was listed as a risk factor at the individual level.

Johanna Pitman, Chair of the Research Subcommittee at the Groundswell Foundation, a not-for-profit tackling loneliness and its impact on mental health, says excessive social media use can limit young people’s in-person interactions and weaken real-world connections.

The online world poses risks beyond lost connection. Gen Z have been flagged as the most likely to be scammed, while Baby Boomers still lose the most, often through social media.

While well meaning advice can be offered to older generations to mitigate these risks, the approach for younger online users can be not only forthright, but enforceable by law under the incoming social media ban.

The Australian Government will implement world-first laws banning under-16s from social media from December 10. Platforms will be forced to find and remove underage accounts. The reform aims to protect young people from the pressures and pitfalls of life online.

The effectiveness of blanket bans remains a contested issue and will no doubt be tested in the coming months.

Enduring reform doesn’t come from one solution alone. Education is a vital part of the puzzle, but it works best when supported by broader efforts that reflect the realities of today’s digital world.

Under the Australian Curriculum, digital literacy, critical and creative thinking, and ethical understanding are core capabilities. They encourage students to use technology thoughtfully, question and create with curiosity, and make choices grounded in fairness and integrity. Together, these skills can help young people think sharper and act wiser in a digital age.

The Australian Curriculum is updated every few years to keep pace with change. The most recent review, completed in 2021, led to Version 9.0 which started getting implemented in classrooms from 2023.

Keeping the curriculum current is key to helping young people navigate life online. But as technology evolves faster than ever, and more teens look to peers, influencers and celebrities for advice, it raises the question of whether we are truly meeting them where
they are.

Developing safeguards to protect young people online is vital, but so is ensuring they can contribute to conversations shaping the digital spaces they live in.

Participation in youth steering committees, involvement with youth organisations, submissions to parliamentary inquiries, speaking with local MPs, and sharing views with parents and teachers are all valuable ways to engage and advocate.

Yet from a teenager’s perspective, do these really feel like opportunities to create change, or barriers that simply push them to find ways around the rules?