Spirit animals of a generation - Why Millennials need memes

Spirit Animals of A Generation

Why millennials need memes

Wednesday, September 11, 13

The generation we’re talking about

Memes matter because the most popular are templates highlighting relevant issues that are layered with individual experiences. If you want a deeper understanding of the generation- see what makes them laugh at themselves.

age 18-34

nonreligious

“trophy kids”

civic-minded

diverseMillennials aka

Gen Y

Generation me

Generation meme

hyper-connected

narcissistic

tolerant


The Spirit Guides & the issues they embody

Student Debt Over Education Underemployment Hyper connectivity

Emerging Adulthood Repressed Cynicism Rise of the un-marrieds

Growing up with Helicopter Parents

Conspicuous consumption

Collaborative Consumption

Doubting Data


Anxiety Cat

1/3 of Millennials regret going to college because student debt, which

now totals $798 billion dollars and exceeds credit card debt in the US

gu

ide to finances

Source: Forbes 5/2013http://www.forbes.com/sites/halahtouryalai/

2013/05/22/student-loan-problems-one-third-of-millennials-regret-going-to-college/


http://www.forbes.com/sites/halahtouryalai/2013/05/22/student-loan-problems-one-third-of-millennials-regret-going-to-college/






Key Lesson: Financial insecurity leads to all kinds of insecurity

Anxiety Cat


Chemistry Cat

A greater share of young adults are enrolled in high school or

college today than at any time in recorded history. Over

63% have aBachelor’s Degree

gui

de to nerd humor

PEW 2/2012http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/

2012/02/09/young-underemployed-and-optimistic/

Millennial Branding 7/2012http://millennialbranding.com/case-studies/

payscale-com-study/


http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/02/09/young-underemployed-and-optimistic/






http://millennialbranding.com/case-studies/payscale-com-study/




Key Lesson: Embrace the dorky/nerdy/intellectual part of yourself

Chemistry Cat


Business Cat

Unemployment numbers for Millennials are almost double the

national average 6 in 10 have jobs, half are part-time

gui

de to

the workplace

Washington Examiner 2/2013http://washingtonexaminer.com/harvard-just-6-in-10-millennials-have-jobs-half-are-

part-time/article/2520719


http://washingtonexaminer.com/harvard-just-6-in-10-millennials-have-jobs-half-are-part-time/article/2520719






Key Lesson: The workplace isn’t as grown up as you thought it would be

Business Cat


Paranoid Parrot

77% of millennials turn to the internet for answers about health more than any other generation

Alarmist media and hyper connectivity has lead to

Cyberchondria and bringing global problems to a personal level

gui

de

to personal safety

PEW 9/2012http://www.pewinternet.org/~/

media/Files/Presentations/2012/Sept/20129%2015%2012Senior%20Citizens%20and%20Digital%20Technology%202_PDF.pdf


http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Presentations/2012/Sept/20129%2015%2012Senior%20Citizens%20and%20Digital%20Technology%202_PDF.pdf










Key Lesson: The world isn’t as scary as it sounds

Paranoid Parrot


Socially Awkward Penguin

Leaving home and getting married used to happen in quick succession.

Now most millennials leave home for college at 18 but the average age for getting married is 27 so

what used to mark adulthood now takes 10 years of trial and error

gui

de to social graces

PEW 12/2011http://www.millennialinflux.com/marriage-

me-later/


http://www.millennialinflux.com/marriage-me-later/




Key Lesson: Knowing when you’re awkward is the first step to awesome

Socially Awkward Penguin

+ Socially Awesome Penguin


Grumpy Cat

80% of millennials feel that their standard of living is getting better even though the aftermath of the

recession has impacted this demographic the most

gu

ide

to embracing cynicism

Gallup 2/2013http://www.gallup.com/poll/160340/

standard-living-optimism-five-year-high.aspx


http://www.gallup.com/poll/160340/standard-living-optimism-five-year-high.aspx




Key Lesson: It’s okay to be unhappy

Grumpy Cat


Foul Bachelorette Frog

Nearly1/3 of millennials have put off marriage or having a baby

because of the economy, 44% say that marriage is

becoming obsolete

guid

e to living alone

PEW 2/2012http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/

2012/02/09/young-underemployed-and-optimistic/








Foul Bachelorette Frog

Key Lesson: There is such a thing as “too comfortable”

+ Foul Bachelor Frog


Courage Wolf

31% of employers reported parents

submitted resumes on behalf of their offspring

55% of millennials speak to their parents almost everyday

gui

de

to getting started

College Employment research Institute 2/2007

http://ceri.msu.edu/publications/pdf/ceri2-07.pdf






Key Lesson: Get over your doubts and get started

Courage Wolf


Rich Raven

72% of millennials would rather spend money on experiences than things which is a larger percentage

than both Gen X and Boomers

JWT Intelligence 1/2013http://www.jwtintelligence.com/2013/01/

data-point-constantly-connected-millennials-crave-sensory-experiences/#axzz2cw8uSQi5

gu

ide

to u

nderstanding the rich


http://www.jwtintelligence.com/2013/01/data-point-constantly-connected-millennials-crave-sensory-experiences/#axzz2cw8uSQi5






Key Lesson: Never be this smug about money

Rich Raven


Torrenting Turtle

Before the anti-piracy bills SOPA and PIPA were indefinitely shelved by congress 10,000,000 signatures

were collected via online petitions, #stopsopa was tweeted 159,000

times and 115,000 websites (including Wikipedia, Reddit and

Wordpress) participated in the strike

gu

ide

to sh

aring “free” conten

t

Fight for the future 1/2013http://sopastrike.com/numbers/


http://sopastrike.com/numbers/

http://sopastrike.com/numbers/

Key Lesson: If you use it for free help others use it for free

Torrenting Turtle


Skeptical Hippo

68% of millennials get their news from Social media and 66% aren’t

confident that the news they receive from any source is accurate,thus

healthy skepticism is required when any type of information is involved g

uid

e to

u

nderstanding the “facts”

Mediabistro 5/2013http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/

millennial-news_b43866


http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/millennial-news_b43866




Key Lesson: Always check the source

Skeptical Hippo


What’s your spirit animal?Emily Bennett @emilylizbAugust 2013


Spirit animals of a generation - Why Millennials need memes

Business

Transcript of Spirit animals of a generation - Why Millennials need memes