Google has an answer for everything. How to tie a tie, who is Lady Gaga, or what is the meaning of life are all Google-able. Because so many of us use Google on the daily, Google has become a hotbed to see what’s top of mind for the entire planet.
I recently decided to tap into this hotbed of information to reveal what Google had to say about the Millennial generation by using the Google Autocomplete feature. Autocomplete is built into Google Search to help you search for information faster and easier. As you type in the Google search box, a few search predictions that are similar to your search terms appear. The autocomplete suggestions are based on how often past users have searched for a term. It’s a fascinating feature to see the cumulative thought on a topic.
8 Google Searches That Expose The World's True Feelings About Millennials
(The term in the search box was my input and the 3-4 items below my search term are the autocomplete predictions.)
- This autocomplete simply demonstrates the general curiosity and need people have to understand the “characteristics” of Millennials…especially “at work."
- This autocomplete confirms the feelings of non-Millennials towards Millennials. “Lazy" and entitled are usually the top responses when I speak to audiences. But this contempt for youth is cyclical and nothing new because even Socrates in 400 B.C. described the youth as loving "luxury” and “chatter in place of exercise.”
- “Screwed” is probably top of mind for many when thinking about the financial landscape of the Millennials and the new challenges of a high-tech world that loom in the near future.
- Millennials love them some music. Technology has enabled Millennials to get closer then ever to music. Music festivals like SXSW, Bonnaroo, Coachella, and TomorrowWorld have become lifestyle and one-of-a-kind experiences that Millennials desire to acquire. Music serves as an emotional touchpoint for Millennials which is why it’s no surprise Twitter launched Twitter Music and Facebook and Instagram are experimenting with music-focused social experiences.
- Millennials don’t hate baby boomers. They hate ignorance, stubbornness, and stagnation. Besides, Millennial’s best friends are baby boomers…their parents.
- As far as hating “cars," there is a Millennial trend of giving up, putting off, or not buying cars. Uber and sharing services like Zipcar and Lift will continue to fuel (pun intended) the no-car trend.
- Because of the Millennials, for the the first time since the 1920s growth in U.S. cities outpaces growth outside of them. As Millennials wait longer to get married and have children, they continue to choose city life (which also fuels the no-need-for-a-car movement). 62% of Millennials indicate they prefer to live in the type of mixed-use communities found in urban centers. (Neilsen)
- I believe the “no future” response stems from people’s perception of technology overconsumption and the fact that Millennials came on to the job scene in one of the greatest recessions causing them to “have it harder” than others who were in the same phase of life. Millennials are also on track to become the first generation who isn’t as well off as the previous generation.
- The Millennial perception of “no work ethic” stems from the perspective shift of how we approach work. Non-Millennials tend to define hard work based on the amount of time invested whereas Millennials define hard work based on the end results and how much heart they put behind their work. Neither one is right, just different.
- Finally, Millennials do have “high expectations” of what the world can be and the change they can spark. (They have to stay hopeful somehow since everyone thinks they have “no future.”)
- Millennials crave constant “feedback.” They grew up in a culture of “instant gratification” where they now expect brands and managers to be available 24/7.
- A company’s involvement with causes influenced 55% of Millennials to accept a job. Millennials share a common quest "to do good" through the work they produce and “to make a difference” through the brands they do business with. Toms, State Bags, and Warby Parker are examples of brands who embrace the one for one movement and are winning with Millennials.
- This autocomplete says it all. Behind all the fear, doubt, and skepticism surrounding the Millennials...there is still hope. Humanity has always looked to it’s youth for innovation and the hope needed to “change the world.” Why stop now?
Harness the hope.
And explore on.
Question: What are you searching for when it comes to Millennials?
