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Millennials and Parenting in the Digital Age

by | Nadia Sullivan | Aimie Nadia Dedy

Millennials are of particular curiosity, from how they interact with technology, to their impact on workplace culture, and society at large. As millennials increasingly transit into parenthood, they can add “mom” or “dad” to their credentials. Most millennials today are driven by their desire to simply become ‘good parents’, which means being there for the family and putting the needs of the family before their own. Although the millennials parents are open minded, unique and simple, they are also complex in their own ways as they look for answers to parental questions and seek parenthood advice in nonconventional ways. Having cutting-edge technology, they rely more on social media for advice and try to raise tech savvy digital natives. Millennial fathers are also more present in their children’s lives, compared to earlier generations’ fathers.

Millennials are not a homogeneous group. despite attempts to stereotype them, one of the most obvious characteristic of the generation is its diversity

PORTRAIT OF THE MILLENNIALS
There are various dates being used to define the millennial generation, also known as Generation Y. Generally, the definition refers to those being born between the early 1978 and 1994. However, there are also variations to this definition, for example, distinctions between older millennials (25- to 34-yearolds) and younger millennials (adults under age 25 or under age 30), or between adults under age 30 and those over 30 (who are primarily of different generations but include some older Millennials).
This generation is often accused of being shallow, self-centred and apathetic by the older generations. However, as Millennials get older, it is becoming clear that family is something they hold dear.
Millennials are not a homogeneous group. Despite attempts to stereotype them, one of the most obvious characteristic of the generation is its diversity.
Millennials are:

  • Racially diverse. Cross borders migration and differences of birth rates amongst races of earlier generations resulted in Gen Y to be the most racially diverse even in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country like Malaysia.mill1
  • Economically diverse. Millennials are also economically diverse, divided almost equally into three categories – upper income, middle income, and lower income. Average monthly household income of Malaysian in 2014 increased to RM4,585 from RM3,626 in 2012, and is growing at the rate of 11.7 per cent annually.
  • Diverse in education. Overall, Gen Y is the most educated cohort in history. More than one-third (34%) of Millennials have attained minimum university level educations (diploma or degree), compared to less than one-quarter of Gen Xers (25%) and boomers (24%). Yet this means that nearly two-thirds do not have tertiary education.
  • Always on. Millennials have been shaped by and have shaped the digital age. Five of six (83%) say they sleep with their mobile phone next to their bed, compared to just 57% of all adults. Gen Y uses the Internet as a social tool, with 75% having a profile on a social networking site. And 80% of younger Millennial (i.e., 18 to 24-year- old) social media users connect with their ‘platforms’ several times a day.
  • Smart, frugal shoppers. All Millennials were under the age of 26 during the Great Recession. The older Millennials were then relatively new to the workforce while the younger ones were mostly in their teens. In addition, many Gen Y consumers continue to have difficulty making ends meet. These economic forces have made Gen Y tend to be more frugal and price-driven than older generations. Most Millennials are savvy shoppers who do research (usually online) before making a purchase and enjoy finding sales, discounts, or online bargains that allow them to save money.

They are innovators who are willing to try new ideas and editors who know how to cut out what no longer works for them

MILLENNIALS AS PARENTS
As the first generation to grow up surrounded with technology, Millennials use technology to their advantage. They recognise its value for learning and bettering themselves as parents. They are highly connected, well informed and willing to ask for help from their peers and utilise the abundance of online resources dedicated to supporting and helping parents succeed.
Relying on digital and mobile devices
Gen Y parents make abundant use of digital tools and social media in their quest to become better parents. This platform continues to play a big part in the lives of Millennials after they become parents to share photos, videos, parenting ideas, and getting parenting tips.
The multiplicity of opinions on and approaches toward parenting available on the Web has made Millennials, as a whole, more tolerant of parenting differences. Most recognise that there is no one right way to parenting. With so many alternative approaches available online and through social media, many Millennials feel free to choose the one that works best for them.
In addition to social media and blogs, most Millennial parents also regard apps, including those not specifically geared toward parents, as irreplaceable tools to help manage their lives. Millennials use apps for everything from managing breastfeeding and sleep schedules through finding babysitters to learning about baby milestones. The Wonder Weeks app, for example, offers a weekly guide to different phases, milestones, and developmental stages that babies typically go through.

Millennials believe in themselves
The best parents teach by example, and this is a generation that understands why dreams and plans really matter. They are innovators who are willing to try new ideas and editors who know how to cut out what no longer works for them. They are self-sustaining independent thinkers who are not afraid to make unconventional choices if that is what is best for their families.

Millennials have been under a spotlight since before they were born
From highly detailed ultrasounds tobeing the first generation raised in the new realities of social media and post 9/11 security, millennials have proven themselves to be creative, open-minded and community-oriented. These moms and dads are open to new ideas and have the skills to sift through them and decide what works for them and, even more importantly, what does not.

mill3Millennials value happiness
Millennials moms and dads know how to put being happy on their to-do list as an end in and of itself. Prioritising joy increases chances of experiencing it, and this is a group of parents who know how to have fun. Silly stories, family art projects and new adventures are a regular part of life. Happiness is for everyone – kids and parents alike. Millennials stay connected with friends and outside interests, and take good care of themselves, too. By refuelling their own batteries, they can power up whole new levels of fun for the whole family.
There is no doubt that parents of every generation excel at raising kids well-equipped to meet the challenges of life on this planet. Parents have always made sacrifices and taught their kids how to be the best people they can be. What really distinguishes millennial parenting is not that these parents do things no one has done before; rather, it is that they do things in a highly customised, couture kind of way. It is not one-size-fits-all parenting; it is a custom blend of deep understanding, relaxed confidence and close family ties that makes one feels like one’s best days are ahead, and the future is in incredibly good hands.

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