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It’s hard to escape the term “millennial,” which seems to pop up everywhere you turn. Used to denote Generation Y, a.k.a., people who were born in the ’80s through the year 2000, all kinds of studies, research and news stories are targeted toward millennial spending habits, millennials in the workplace, millennials living with their parents, and so on and so forth. With more than 80 million millennials in America, it’s easy to see why there is such an investment in the interests of this group.
And much like other generations that came before them, millennials are considered to be the “me” generation. Entitled, lazy. These are some of the words that are often tossed around when you simply whisper the m-word. Millennials are children of the Internet age. They’re willing to pursue their own entrepreneurial ventures. They’re health-conscious. They’re…well, you know–if you’re a millennial. Here are some surefire signs that you are.
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Texting
Depending on where you skew on the millennial spectrum, you likely use your cell phone for texting instead of making calls. You’re also more likely to freak out when your cell phone actually rings.
Texting Part II
Why use words when texting with emojis and memes will suffice and is so much more fun?
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Food Porn
If you can’t get through one meal without Instagramming a photo of the food on your plate, chances are, you’re a millennial.
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Wi-Fi
Unless you’re partaking in some sort of social media cleanse, you go from 0 to 100 real quick if you’re not able to access Wi-Fi the second you want it.
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TGIF
You remember when ABC’s TGIF sitcom lineup was a thing, long before Shondaland laid claim to TGIT.
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Vernacular
“Adulting,” “can’t even” and “bae” make guest appearances in your online and in-person conversations.
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TV
Cable? Who needs cable when you can order shows à la carte, and when you can simply Netflix and chill or Hulu and hang?
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News
If you’re a millennial, chances are you’re not sitting at home watching local or national news programs regularly. Twitter is one of your main, trusted news sources, and you check it on the go.
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Employment
Millennials might be lagging in the workforce but they’re securing jobs in ways no other generation has. You can post a blog or vlog, land a bunch of hits, likes and retweets and get a call out of the blue from an employer looking to hire you based on that alone.
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Travel
According to Forbes, if millennials had to choose between traveling and saving money for retirement, many would rather pack their bags than stash away their cash.
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Ignorance Is Bliss
A large percentage of millennial college graduates see their student loan debt in, shall we say, foggy terms. A Citizens Bank survey reported that nearly 60 percent of millennials don’t know when they’ll be debt free. Fifteen percent don’t even know how much they owe.
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Denial
A surefire sign that you’re a millennial is if you take offense when someone calls you a millennial.
