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Generation Y are constantly accused of being materialistic. Previous generations did not have the technology that is available today. Thus all of the gadgets the youth of today have glued to their hands were not available. Because there are so many more products available, generation Y is automatically labelled as materialistic, and deemed as having no appreciation for culture and the finer things in life. However this may not be the case.
Materialism has always existed. In each generation there are fads and technological advances that most people want to be a part of. Changes in fashion, music and other forms of popular culture have been around for hundreds of years. There may be more choice available today, but materialism in some form or another has existed for many years, in one form or another.
With their iPods, eReaders and other numerous gadgets, generation Y are accused of not having the classic cultural influences of previous generations. They are mostly accused of not being able to read, or at least in having no interest in reading. This could very well be a dangerous assumption, technology only highlights a problem that has existed for many years prior to advances in technology. It’s not that less youth are reading, it’s that because of technology we know more about the number of youth that can’t or don’t want to read.
With access to hundreds of cultures with the click of a button, generation Y (and even younger generations) may be less materialistic and more culturally savvy than we realize. Don’t be so hasty in dismissing this tech savvy generation.
