I saw this video about the RAND Corporation’s Simon Sinek talking about the problem with millennials, and thought it was interesting enough to post, but not necessarily endorse.
Some thoughts and caveats:
- Categorizing the effects of both “alcohol” and “social media” to just one effect (release of dopamine) is incredibly reductive. Alcohol in particular has very complex effects on a wide variety of neurotransmitters. Analogies this crude rather undermine the points he’s trying to make.
- I wonder if anyone has compared the neurochemical effects of using social media to that of (to name three controls) watching TV, talking on a telephone, and playing a video game. (Indeed, I’d suggest a variety of video games, given enough time/money/etc. for the study.) Where are they similar and where do they differ?
- I think some of the points he’s making about millennials have some validity, but they’re pretty broad generalizations. I wonder how much is true, and how much is confirmation bias from pandering to my preconceptions.
- Not touched on here are what I see as significant differences in the way men and women use social media (especially Facebook).
Worth watching, even if you don’t agree with everything.