The Return Of The Digital Native
We, the Millennials, are often referred to as “digital natives” because we grew up with the Internet. We were all over AIM and now we’re all over Skype. We do research for school projects, watch TV, text and IM all at the same time. We know how to multi-task because we’ve been doing it our whole lives, and we bring this multi-tasking mentality and ability to the workplace.
I’ve heard from multiple sources that Gen Y has a short or non-existent attention span because we have always had so many choices at our finger tips. We have TV (both cable and online), the Internet, iPod’s, cell phones, other electronic gadgets, and myriad other things to distract us.
I would argue, however, that our attention spans are doing just fine, thank you very much. Let’s look at some statistics. The National Center for Education Stats and the U.S. Census shows that the number of undergraduates in 2008 was 18.4 million versus 8.6 million in 1970. We are concentrated: we know our end goal is to graduate and to get a decent job (although the economy is our enemy).
We are willing to put in the time to get there. You could argue that only 37% of us graduate on time, while another 26% take the 5- or 6-year track (myself included), but you must consider that many of us work part or full time while attending school. The cost of tuition is undoubtedly rising and Millennials are willing to work to pay for education. Learning to juggle the work-school balance is just another facet of our multi-tasking abilities.
When we enter the workforce, we bring with us this multi-tasking mentality. We don’t see a problem with having our cell phones out on our desks, or having our ear buds in. You might walk by our computer and see two windows open: a window full of work-related mumbo-jumbo and a Tweetdeck window. To you it looks like we’re slacking off. We’re actually doing what we always do: multitasking.
Before you get yourself all worked-up over us slackers, ask yourself these questions: Do we complete our work on time or ahead of schedule? Do we ask for additional tasks? Is all that tweeting hurting or helping business? If you come to the conclusion that your Millennial is definitely slacking off then you should say something. If not, then is it really an issue?
Millennials are most definitely the digital natives. It’s a title we own and we own it with pride. We’ve got our iPhones in one hand, our Kindle in the other and we’re ready to show you just what an asset our multitasking abilities can be to your company.
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I completely agree with you! Bosses should care about the fact that we are getting the work done on time. And if we don’t then we use it as a learning experience for next time.
Thanks for the comment Julia. I agree, most everything for millennials enter the workforce is a learning experience, since we’re just now becoming young professionals. If we slack off, we should be reprimanded and we’ll learn to do better; however, if we’re effectively managing our time, what’s the problem!
Luckily my bosses understood that multitasking is how we function. At my past internship each person at the office had 2 computer monitors so the extra screen space was perfect for multitasking. When you’re simultaneously in charge of a campaign’s social media strategies, developing pitches to a possible client, and the internal marketing for the company you work for multitasking is absolutely necessary. Without it I don’t think Millennials would be as driven to beat deadlines and go beyond their employers’ expectations.
Kristen, I completely agree. Multitasking is in our blood, and having two computer monitors is an awesome perk! I was so excited when I got my second monitor at work; it completely helps me with efficiency.
It’s important to differentiate what you could call “intermedia” multitasking habits from “intramedia” multitasking habits. There’s a difference between having a Tweetdeck window open beside a Googledoc and IMing while you watch television. I certainly agree that on online platforms, which are nearly always interactive, digital natives flip between tabs, windows and websites. I think Daniel Pink calls it “swimming” through the Internet. You could also liken millenial use of the Internet vis-a-vis the use of older generations to the difference between playing a piano and a violin. Millenials have the familiarity to play ten notes at once, and thus can “make more music” (or at least more productive use) of the online world, whereas past generations grew up with “one-note” media (radio, print, tv, etc.). Playing a one note at a time doesn’t make for good piano music, nor does it make full use of the incredible tools available online. That’s the strong suit of millenials: they learned on the piano at the outset.
What’s interesting is that this online multitasking doesn’t seem to transfer when millenials transition to other media. According to Nielsen (http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/reports/nielsen_howteensusemedia_june09.pdf), 77% of millenials DON’T have their computer open while they flip through a magazine or read a TV (although they do reach for the Internet during commercial breaks). Whether or not this will remain true as television and magazines move online (look at Hulu or read this: http://www.techradar.com/news/portable-devices/is-the-apple-islate-the-saviour-of-magazines–659811) remains to be seen.
Definitely a cool topic. Thanks for writing!
Hi John, thanks for the great comment. I loved your example of playing 10 notes vs. 1 note. Do you think it makes sense though that when we’re flipping through a magazine that we have to physically hold, that our whole attention would be on reading what is in our hands whereas on the internet we have multiple tabs and links open because it’s easy/easier?
PS: Thanks for the links!
Hey Kristina – Good article. While I definitely agree with the multi-tasking ability, I do think that in some cases multi-tasking bites us in the ass. I, for one, DO have an incredibly short attention span. I have to self-impose single-tasking (I’ll go as far as physically unplugging my internet connection sometimes). But the digital distractions are an excuse, not a reason. If the web didn’t exist, I’d find other ways of getting distracted (I also try to avoid sitting near windows while working).
Hey Adam, you know there are pills for that, right? Haha, I kid
— I can’t imaging unplugging my Internet and switching off wireless… what a nightmare!
“The cost of tuition is undoubtedly rising and Millennials are willing to work to pay for education. Learning to juggle the work-school balance is just another facet of our multi-tasking abilities.”
I couldn’t agree more. In general I think that we’re asked to grow up a lot faster and asked to do a lot more at a younger age than our parents. The idea that you need experience to land an internship is an issue they never had to deal with. We’re expected to be on the ball starting freshmen year of high school, perhaps sooner. Hell, the requirements I had to fulfill for Eagle scout were twice that of my father, and you start them at 11 years old!
I’m certainly not complaining, I’m glad I’ve learned so much. But, in a strange way I think that things like working while listening to music sort of became a necessity for me because of this, if only because when else am I going to listen? The world expects a lot of different things from us so I think it’s pretty natural we learned to deal with those demands in our own way.
Hi Jason,
“But, in a strange way I think that things like working while listening to music sort of became a necessity for me because of this, if only because when else am I going to listen?”
I’ve never thought of it like that before, and I agree. My day is jam packed from the time I wake up at 6:30am to the time I turn in at midnight; from my eight hour work day to running to graduate classes at night and finding time for the gym and my boyfriend, things are hectic. Your comment makes complete sense, thanks for bringing that to light!
I have learned first hand the downside of too much multitasking and have one important message:
Although I agree that we have been raised to multitask and can be successful doing so, Gen Ys must have the ability to unitask. This is critical, especially if you work for someone else. Any loss of productivity costs your boss money and directly affects them.
I enjoy multitasking, but I have learned the importance of unitasking. And I hope you do to.
WORD.
Great post! As a millennial/digital native or whatever else I may be labeled, I work better while multitasking!