The FINANCIAL –Younger Millennials (ages 13-17) are different from their older counterparts in key ways: beginning to map their careers at 13, absorbing the advice of pragmatic Gen X parents, and adjusting the rules of how and when to use technology — even unplugging and mono-tasking to de-stress, according to a study "The New Millennials Will Keep Calm and Carry On" by MTV, a division of Viacom.
The differences between first and second wave Millennials can be seen as the juxtaposition between Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen of "The Hunger Games." Today's twenty-somethings — more akin to the magical wizard Harry Potter — represent the Millennials that came of age in the economic boom of the 90s/early 2000s, a time of "Yes We Can" and the belief that college, working hard and playing by the rules would guarantee future success. Raised by idealistic Boomer parents, older Millennials were told they were special and gifted, with a magic wand capable of changing the world, according to Viacom Inc.
Today's tweens and teens have come of age during the Great Recession, seeing college graduates struggling with huge student loan debt and living through a cascade of social-media amplified tragedies — from Hurricane Sandy to the Sandy Hook School shooting. While this reality is having a profound impact on Young Millennials' world view, they still exhibit the optimism of their older counterparts, and instead of giving up are prepping, planning and specializing to achieve the future they want for themselves.
"Millennials are the biggest generation in history, and to stay at the forefront of youth culture, we need to deeply understand the rising tide — who will soon be our core audience and new employees," said Stephen Friedman, President of MTV. "This study clearly shows that Millennials cannot be viewed as a monolithic bloc. We are especially impressed to see how Millennial teens are resiliently and optimistically responding to adversity and preparing to win in the game of life," he added.
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